High court runs short of judges

By SAMUEL RAITANO

THE Supreme Court in Waigani has been short of judges this month, according to Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia, The National reports.
He said five judges, including himself, had taken the month to work on the decision of the East Sepik provincial executive Supreme Court special reference to be delivered on Dec 9.
Eight other judges were out of the province on duty.
Waigani has been left with only four judges.
Sir Salamo, who chose to help litigants in court yesterday, said some judges should be available after Dec 9 and 12.
It is understood that after the Dec 9 ruling on the East Sepik reference, the same five-man bench will hear the contempt case against Deputy Prime Minister Belden Namah and Attorney-General Dr Allan Marat on Dec 12.
Yesterday, most cases listed before Sir Salamo were adjourned to dates after Dec 12.
Sir Salamo said given the number of Supreme Court cases and requirements that some cases would need more than one judge to preside over, some matters were likely to be heard next year.
Meanwhile, about 70 new lawyers will be admitted to the bar on Friday.
They are graduates from the University of Papua New Guinea who have acquired practising certificates from the Legal Training Institute.
An attempt to confirm the number of the new lawyers with LTI director Pauline Mogish was unsuccessful.
LTI yesterday confirmed preparations were under way for Friday’s admission to the bar.