A former Chief Judge to the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces James E. Baker was last week welcomed to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) by the Director of Public Prosecutions Christopher Pryde.

Judge Baker was in the country for three days following an invite from the Director of Public Prosecutions to share his experience and knowledge with prosecutors and judges in the country.

His visit to Fiji was sponsored by the United States Embassy in Suva.

He presented a number of lectures at the ODPP Advanced National Prosecution Course which started on Monday last week at the Fiji Police Force Training Academy, Nasova and also with members of the judiciary at a separate workshop.

He shared his expertise with legal officers at the ODPP’s monthly training workshop and led a number of discussions.

Judge Baker was appointed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces in 2000 and became its Chief Judge in 2011.

Judge Baker is the recipient of the 1999 Colonel Nelson Drew Award which is the US National Security Council’s highest honour, recognising “distinguished contributions to the formation of peaceful, cooperative relationships between states, and US security policy for global peace.”

He is also a recipient of the “Director’s Award”, given by the Director of Central Intelligence as recognition for “superior contributions in the fields of intelligence and national security”.

In 2009, the US Army Command and General Staff College awarded Judge Baker the honorary degree of Master of Military Art and Science.

Judge Baker was formally farewelled last Friday by the ODPP staff during their monthly gunu sede.

Source: Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions 

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