Solicitor’s office needs lawyers

THE public solicitor’s office in Goroka, Eastern Highlands, has only four lawyers, Public Solicitor Leslie Mamu says.
Mamu was responding to questions from The National regarding the number of lawyers stationed in Goroka following a recent event where a magistrate scolded state lawyers in Goroka for not turning up in court. “We have four lawyers and two National Court sittings in Goroka,” Mamu said.
“Because of the lack of numbers that we have, our approach is designed in a manner that services the National Court.
“It is not to say that the District Court is not important. The Constitution lays out our courts in such a manner that we have the higher court and the lower court.
“The higher courts are preceded over by judges and the lower are preceded by magistrates and that’s the hierarchy.
“So our concentration is to provide lawyers in the National Court because of the more serious offences are dealt with in that court.
“When we have more lawyers we can allow some to serve the District Courts as well.
“But where you have one or four lawyers is insufficient to be present in the lower courts as well.”
Mamu said the Public Solicitor’s office had a high regard for the District Courts but were working within their limits.
“We have submitted to the Department of Personnel Management and the restructure committee to increase the man power (in Goroka) to seven lawyers,” Mamu said.
“For us to be present at the district courts, the government must provide the number of lawyers that we need.”
Mamu said the cost of the restructure was K19 million.