Chief Justice of Papua New Guinea
- Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia, Kst
Current Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia was appointed on October 31`st 2008, following the premature retirement of former Chief Justice Sir Mari Kapi. From the Enga Province, Sir Salamo was Deputy Chief Justice since 2003. Prior to that he was resident judge based in Lae. Sir Salamo graduated from the University of Papua New Guinea in 1982 and went on to complete a Masters Degree at the Havard Law School in the United States. He practiced at the Office of the Public Solicitor and then went into private practice soon after. He is married to Lady Piam and they have three children. His Honor is also a devout Lutheran Church goer.
The Office of the Chief Justice is established under the National Constitution.
The Chief Justice is the head of the National Judiciary and is responsible for the organization of the affairs and the administration of the business of the Supreme Court and the National Court in consultation with the other Judges.
The Chief Justice is appointed by the Head of State acting with and in accordance with the advice of the National Executive Council upon recommendation by the Minister responsible for the National Justice Administration.The National Executive Council made another historical decision to localized the National Judiciary on the 14th August 1980 when Sir Buri William Kidu who was then the Secretary for Justice Department, was appointed the first national Chief Justice of Papua New Guinea. His term expired on 16th August 1993. The second Chief Justice appointed was Sir Arnold Karibone Amet who was in office from the 16th August 1993 to the 18th August 2003. Sir Mari Kapi was then appointed as the third Chief Justice then there after.
National Judiciary
The National Judiciary consists of:-
a. Chief Justice
b. Deputy Chief Justice
c. Judges
d. Acting Judges
The Judicial Authority of the people is vested in the National Judicial System headed by the National Judiciary and its organization
The Judicial & Legal Services Commission appoints the Deputy Chief Justice and the Judges. There are currently twenty one (21) Judges serving in the national Judiciary includes Chief Justice and the Deputy Chief Justice.