Justice of the Court of Appeal
Court of Appeal
A graduate of the University of Papua New Guinea, he completed his legal training at the Legal Training Institute in 1979 and was admitted to the Bar on 10 October 1980. His legal career commenced on 3 December 1979 when he joined the Office of the Public Prosecutor as a Legal Officer. He later served as a Senior State Prosecutor and Legal Counsel to the Ombudsman Commission, providing legal advice on constitutional and leadership matters while mentoring younger legal practitioners.
In 1987, he was appointed Principal Magistrate, where he presided over civil and criminal matters and supervised magistrates across multiple regions. Appointment as an Acting Judge of the National Court in December 1989, was followed by his substantive appointment as a Judge of the National Court and Supreme Court on 1 June 1990.
Over a judicial career spanning more than 35 years, he has presided over a wide range of civil, criminal, constitutional, and leadership cases. His responsibilities have included hearing appeals in the Supreme Court, determining complex matters in the National Court, presiding over Leadership Tribunals, Constitutional References, and Commissions of Inquiry, and contributing significantly to the development of Papua New Guinea's jurisprudence.
His leadership within the judiciary culminated in his appointment as Deputy Chief Justice from 2009 to 2018, during which time he frequently acted as Chief Justice. In these roles, he applied his extensive experience in administration, team building, project management, staff development, and judicial governance to strengthen the effectiveness and integrity of the courts. In 2019 he was appointed Chief Justice for a period of ten years. He also served as a Judge of the Court of Appeal in Kiribati, Solmon Islands and Nauru.
He has served as Chairman of the Law Reform Commission, Defence Force Judge, accredited mediator, and member of several judicial reform and alternative dispute resolution initiatives.
His legacy is defined by an unwavering commitment to justice, judicial independence, ethical leadership, and the continued development of the legal profession and judiciary in Papua New Guinea and the Pacific region.
He was sworn in as a Justice of the Court of Appeal on 15 June 2026.