Chief Justice of Papua New Guinea
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 current Chief Justice is Sir Mari Kapi CBE, CSI. He was born on the 12th December 1950 at Keapara village, Rigo District in the Central Province. He graduated from University of Papua New Guinea in 1972 and worked as a lawyer with the Public Solicitor. On 1st January 1978 he became the first national Public Solicitor until he was appointed as the first national Judge to the Supreme and National Court of Papua New Guinea on the 1st December 1979.
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.
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