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***Kris Kringle*** · 01-03-2022, 10:38 PM

03 JANUARY 2022 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THE CHIEF JUSTICE'S END OF TERM ADDRESS

Fellow South Pacificans,

I come before you to provide a brief update on the current state of the High Court, including a summary of the business that was conducted during the 2021 Term, recent changes in the composition of the bench, and the progress that I hope we will be able to make in the coming term. Prior to any of this, I wish to take the time to thank my colleagues at the bench, who all work tirelessly to guarantee equal justice for all in the region, and who each bring something special to our conferences. It truly is a privilege to share the bench with such skilled, fair-minded, and knowledgable colleagues.

This term the Court received eight case submissions, all legal questions, six of which were deemed justiciable. This allowed to Court to consider questions on a range of issues, mostly on the powers of executive officials to do certain actions. For a full breakdown of the cases that were submitted, the individuals who submitted those cases, and the Justices who considered them, please refer to the Home tab of the Online Rulings Consultation System. That said, please read on for a summary of the past term:

24 threads were disclosed in compliance with the Sunshine Act.

12 cases have been submitted by Sandaoguo as of the end of this term, tying Belschaft for most frequent submitter.

8 cases were submitted, all legal questions.

6 cases were deemed justiciable.

4 cases were presided or seconded by Justice Griffindor, the most out of all Justices this term.

1 Associate Justice was sworn in, with Justice Roavin succeeding Justice Nat.
I take this opportunity to welcome Justice Roavin, who joined the bench early in the term and has promptly adjusted to their new role. While they had big shoes to fill after the resignation of Justice Nat, they have done a fantastic job at familiarising themselves with the inner workings of the Court and doing their part in ensuring that the law is interpreted fairly.

I am pleased with the current state of the Court, but I also believe that there is room for improvement. The average time for the consideration of cases from submission to decision was of 38 days: this is roughly twice the time allowed by the Standards for Case Management, and higher than the 27 days averaged during the 2020 Term. We can do better, and I have no doubt that the coming term will provide us with ample opportunity to ensure that judicial business is conducted reasonably swiftly, while still balancing the various obligations that Justices have both within the region and in their personal lives.

I wish to close this address by thanking my fellow Justices for their steadfast dedication to this institution and to the ideals that it represents, and also all legislators for their trust in the judiciary as a cornerstone of our democratic system. I also extend an invitation to any and all legislators who might have an interest in the Court to reach out and ask how they can get involved in the judiciary. While usually there are only limited opportunities for involvement, I am sure that by working together with interested legislators and with existing ministries we can find ways to help all those interested to develop the skills that are needed to continue building the Court in the coming term.

Kris Kringle
Chief Justice of the South Pacific

Issued 03 Jan 2022

Former Delegate of the South Pacific
Posts outside High Court venues should be taken as those of any other legislator.
I do not participate in the regional server, but I am happy to talk through instant messaging or on the forum.

Legal Resources:
THE MATT-DUCK Law Archive | Mavenu Diplomatic Archive | Rules of the High Court | Case Submission System | Online Rulings Consultation System