35:
729:), and any other judicial offices that may be established by Parliament. Parliament may also empower the commission to make appointments to non-judicial offices. In making its appointments, the Commission must consult with the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition, and must obtain the Prime Minister's approval if a non-citizen is to be appointed to a judicial office (other than that of a judge).
804:
The
President, acting on his or her own discretion, may dismiss a judge on the written recommendation of the tribunal or medical board. The President may, at his or her own discretion, suspend from office any judge being investigated by a tribunal or medical board. The suspension automatically ceases if the tribunal or medical board recommends that the judge not be removed from office.
526:
not be initiated by individuals. The
Supreme Court has the power to review, vary, affirm, or discard decisions of the Court of Appeal, may order retrials, and may award costs to defendants and plaintiffs. Decisions of the Supreme Court are binding on all subordinate courts. The Supreme Court may, at its own discretion, review any judgment or decision that it has previously rendered.
606:. The Chief Justice is not permitted to hold this position; the Court of Appeal is the only court from which the Chief Justice is constitutionally barred from membership. This is to give the Court of Appeal a measure of independence from the other courts. Also members of the Court of Appeal are the
803:
consisting of not less than three persons, who must be past or present judges either in Fiji or another country prescribed by
Parliament. In the case of alleged inability to perform the functions of office, the President appoints a medical board, consisting of three qualified medical practitioners.
709:
In the event of a vacancy in the office of Chief
Justice, or in the event of the Chief Justice being unable to perform his duties due to absence, illness, or any other cause, the President may, on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission, following consultation by it with the appropriate Cabinet
525:
to hear and determine appeals from all final judgments of the Court of Appeal. A case may be brought before the
Supreme Court only if the Court of Appeal has determined to refer the case to it, or if the Supreme Court has, in its own judgment, decided to hear an appeal; proceedings in this court may
782:
The retirement age of judges is not applicable to persons acting in that capacity on a temporary basis. Judges who are past retirement age may therefore be called out of retirement, from time to time, to temporarily fill vacancies or to act in the place of a judge who is absent or otherwise unable
701:
The judges of the
Supreme Court, the President of the Court of Appeal, the Justices of Appeal, and the puisne judges of the High Court are appointed by the President of Fiji, upon the nomination of the Judicial Service Commission, after consulting with the Cabinet Minister and the committee of the
774:
Upon reaching the applicable retirement age, the retirement of the Chief
Justice, any Supreme Court judge, or a Justice of Appeal (including the President of the Court of Appeal) may be waived to allow that person to continue in office, or to transfer to another judicial office, for a term of not
767:
The Chief
Justice, Supreme Court Judges, and Justices of Appeal (including the President of the Court of Appeal), are required to retire on reaching the age of 70. The retirement of Justices of Appeal may be waived, however, for a term of years or for the duration of one or more sessions of the
642:
sets out the qualifications for judges. A judge (of any court) must either be a qualified barrister or solicitor with a minimum of seven years' experience in Fiji or another country prescribed by law, or one who holds or has held a high judicial position in Fiji or another country prescribed by
491:
set out the jurisdiction of the various courts. The
Supreme Court and High Court are declared to possess the jurisdiction they formerly possessed prior to the adoption of the Constitution; they, together with the Appeal Court also possess whatever authority may be conferred on them by the
735:
sets out the criteria for appointment to judicial office. The first principle is that all judicial officers should be based on merit, filled by persons of "the highest quality." The second principle is that, as far as practicable, the composition of the judiciary should reflect Fiji's
713:
In the event of the absence or incapacity of a puisne judge of the High Court, or in the event of a vacancy in such a position, the
President may appoint someone to act in that capacity. No person who is not qualified to fill the office may be appointed as an interim
778:
The retirement of puisne judges at the age of 65 is compulsory and may not be waived. They are eligible, however, for appointment as Justices of Appeal (including to the Presidency of the Court of Appeal), as judges of the Supreme Court, or to the office of Chief
675:. The commission is empowered to investigate complaints against judges and officials of courts that are subordinate to the High Court, and may take disciplinary actions against them. The Commissioners are entitled to whatever allowances Parliament may determine.
647:
are not excluded. This is in recognition that as a developing country, the government may deem it in the national interest to look abroad for judges with expertise in various aspects of the law. Accordingly, judges from the United Kingdom and
503:" over any civil and criminal cases, constitutional disputes, and appeals from subordinate courts. It is also vested with the authority to oversee all proceedings of subordinate courts, and to issue appropriate directives to such courts.
795:
sets out the grounds, and the manner, in which a judge may be removed. A judge may be dismissed only for misbehavior or for inability to perform his or her duties, owing to illness or metal incapacitation, or any other cause.
726:
1581:
771:
Puisne judges are appointed for terms of not less than four years, nor more than seven years, and are required to retire on the expiry of their term or at the age of 65, whichever event occurs sooner.
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540:, to ask the Supreme Court to rule on actual or potential disagreements pertaining to the Constitution. The Supreme Court is required to pronounce its opinion in open court.
462:– in other words, there is no judicial authority higher than the Supreme Court. In this respect, the Supreme Court takes over the functions formerly performed by the British
560:(who is also the Chief Justice) to make rules, subject to the Constitution and to legislation, for the practice and procedures to be followed in the Supreme Court.
775:
more than three years. This may be renewed, but not after the judge has reached the age of 75. No person, therefore, may serve as a judge after the age of 78.
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As the membership of the three courts established by the Constitution overlaps to a large extent, this clause is inserted to prevent a conflict of interest.
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It is divided into twenty-two sections, setting out the composition and functions of the Judicial branch of the Fijian government.
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requires all judges, before taking office, to take the oath (prescribed in Part D of the Schedule) before the President of Fiji.
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forbids any reduction in the salary of judges during their terms of office. This is intended as a safeguard against blackmail.
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declares the judges of all courts of the State to be independent of the legislative and executive branches of government.
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634:"A judge who has sat in a trial of a matter that is the subject of appeal to a higher court must not sit in the appeal."
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from all judgments of the High Court. From time to time, other powers may be assigned to this court by law.
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710:
Minister, appoint another person (who must be qualified for appointment as a judge) to act in that capacity.
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declares that all judges in office before the commencement of the Constitution remain in office under it.
458:, and also make provision for other courts to be established by law. The Supreme Court is declared to be
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550:. The nature of this offence and of the appropriate punishments are to be prescribed by law.
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698:. This does not give the Leader of the Opposition a veto, only the right to be consulted.
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empowers the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, and the High Court to punish persons for
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is a new institution established by this constitution; the other two courts predate it.
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667:. It consists of the Chief Justice, who chairs the commission, the Chairperson of the
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along with others appointed specifically to serve as judges of the Supreme Court.
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set out the composition of the High Court, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court.
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and should aim for substantially equal representation of males and females.
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Parliament. The judiciary is the only branch of government from which non-
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prescribes the terms of office and the retirement ages for judges.
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The Chief Justice is appointed by the President on the advice of the
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652:, among other countries, have sometimes served on Fiji's courts.
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595:, or junior judges, with whatever powers Parliament may confer.
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is chaired by the Chief Justice, and includes a minimum of ten
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In the case of alleged misbehavior, the President appoints a
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deals with the manner in which judges are to be appointed.
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610:
of the High Court, and persons specifically appointed as
564:
Composition of the courts and qualifications for judges
725:, a central agricultural tribunal (to administer the
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empowers the Judicial Service Commission to appoint
678:
59:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
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621:is chaired by the Chief Justice and includes the
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706:responsible for the administration of justice.
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466:before Fiji became a republic in 1987. The
378:16: Commencement, Interpretation and Repeals
233:16: Commencement, Interpretation and Repeals
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119:Learn how and when to remove this message
591:may also provide for the appointment of
460:"the final appellate court of the State"
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694:, who is required to consult with the
68:"1997 Constitution of Fiji: Chapter 9"
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821:
727:Agricultural Landlord and Tenant Act
57:adding citations to reliable sources
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383:17: Schedule Oaths and Affirmations
238:17: Schedule Oaths and Affirmations
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25:
18:Judicial Service Commission (Fiji)
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847:
679:Appointment of judicial officers
604:President of the Court of Appeal
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783:to carry out his or her duties.
512:"to hear and determine appeals"
439:The three constitutional courts
44:needs additional citations for
1436:Federated States of Micronesia
558:President of the Supreme Court
446:establishes three courts: the
13:
1:
813:
373:15: Amendment of Constitution
228:15: Amendment of Constitution
656:Judicial Services Commission
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671:, and the President of the
665:Judicial Service Commission
474:Jurisdictions of the courts
358:12: Revenue and Expenditure
213:12: Revenue and Expenditure
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338:8: Great Council of Chiefs
193:8: Great Council of Chiefs
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916:Reconciliation Commission
906:Military–church relations
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669:Public Service Commission
593:Masters of the High Court
429:1997 Constitution of Fiji
280:1997 Constitution of Fiji
135:1997 Constitution of Fiji
1582:Northern Mariana Islands
1125:Leader of the Opposition
704:House of Representatives
696:Leader of the Opposition
492:Constitution or by law.
1547:Cocos (Keeling) Islands
1044:Great Council of Chiefs
536:, on the advice of the
333:7: Executive Government
188:7: Executive Government
1418:Judiciaries of Oceania
523:exclusive jurisdiction
1530:and other territories
501:original jurisdiction
422:Chapter 9: Judiciary.
499:is given unlimited "
368:14: Emergency Powers
223:14: Emergency Powers
53:improve this article
788:Removal from office
623:Justices of Appeal,
510:is given the right
1179:Telecommunications
612:Justices of Appeal
602:is chaired by the
353:11: Accountability
348:10: State Services
208:11: Accountability
203:10: State Services
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548:contempt of court
534:President of Fiji
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328:6: The Parliament
323:5: Social Justice
318:4: Bill of Rights
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183:6: The Parliament
178:5: Social Justice
173:4: Bill of Rights
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16:(Redirected from
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1557:French Polynesia
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958:Cities and towns
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921:2005–2006 crisis
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663:establishes the
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109:December 2013
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70: –
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64:Find sources:
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42:This article
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1528:Dependencies
1514:Cook Islands
1307:
1292:Coat of arms
1278:
1273:Architecture
1225:Indo-Fijians
1210:Demographics
1156:Central bank
1056:Human rights
1019:Constitution
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569:Sections 126
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485:Sections 119
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343:9: Judiciary
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303:1: The State
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198:9: Judiciary
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158:1: The State
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51:Please help
46:verification
43:
26:
1461:New Zealand
963:Earthquakes
931:2009 crisis
896:1977 crisis
808:Section 139
793:Section 138
761:Section 137
750:Section 136
744:Section 135
733:Section 134
723:Magistrates
719:Section 133
684:Section 132
661:Section 131
650:New Zealand
640:Section 130
630:Section 129
554:Section 125
544:Section 124
530:Section 123
479:Section 118
444:Section 117
1612:Categories
1317:Literature
1168:(currency)
1100:Parliament
901:1987 coups
814:References
589:Parliament
581:High Court
497:High Court
454:, and the
448:High Court
433:Judiciary.
431:is titled
308:2: Compact
163:2: Compact
79:newspapers
1431:Australia
1327:Mythology
1297:Festivals
1250:Squatting
1235:Languages
1215:Education
1184:Transport
1161:Companies
1110:President
1088:Commander
1068:Judiciary
1034:Elections
983:Volcanoes
968:Provinces
941:Geography
926:2006 coup
911:2000 coup
884:Governors
521:is given
425:Chapter 9
1446:Kiribati
1377:Category
1240:Religion
1095:Monarchy
1083:Military
1049:Chairman
1002:Politics
988:Wildlife
853:articles
801:tribunal
779:Justice.
645:citizens
571:through
487:through
294:Chapters
287:Preamble
149:Chapters
142:Preamble
1592:Tokelau
1496:Vanuatu
1361:Outline
1311:(dance)
1260:Culture
1198:Society
1144:Economy
1024:Cabinet
861:History
538:Cabinet
427:of the
93:scholar
1567:Hawaii
1491:Tuvalu
1337:Sports
1287:Cinema
1268:Anthem
1230:Health
978:Rotuma
973:Rivers
851:
714:judge.
450:, the
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1486:Tonga
1476:Samoa
1466:Palau
1456:Nauru
1368:Index
1322:Music
100:JSTOR
86:books
1562:Guam
1519:Niue
1441:Fiji
1308:Meke
1302:Flag
1279:bure
1061:LGBT
849:Fiji
617:The
598:The
579:The
517:The
506:The
495:The
72:news
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573:128
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