JUSTICE and Attorney General Minister Pila Niningi has presented the Judicial Legal Services Commission Annual Reports for 2020 and 2021 to Parliament this week.
He said the reports outline the implementation of the judicial legal services commission’s core functions, roles and responsibilities.
“The Judicial Legal Services Commission performs a key role in the judicial and executive arms of the government in terms of the appointment constitutional office holders and departmental heads,” Niningi said.
He said the core function of the commission is to keep the judiciary and law officers in check.
Niningi said despite this, the commission is incapable of executing its functions in full due to a lack of manpower and capacity.
“We are in the process of setting up an office with full-time staff and a submission is being prepared to be presented to Parliament in due course.”
He said in 2020, then-Minister and chairman of the commission, Bryan Kramer, made a significant number of appointments in the lower and higher judiciary.
“Five acting judges, 13 magistrates and an acting chief lands title commissioner were appointed,” Niningi said.
“We also renewed the appointment of the National Judicial staff Service Secretary and extended the term of the current chief magistrate.”
He said 2021 was a good year for the service as it was able to conduct all its statutorily required meetings.
Niningi said nine acting judges, including six females and seven substantive judges were appointed during this term, as well as the reappointment two acting judges.
Justice and Attorney General Minister Pila Niningi. – Picture supplied.
