Chief Justice Temo eyes change to Judicial Services Commission structure

Chief Justice Salesi Temo has raised concerns about conflicts of interest involving senior judicial leaders, prompting him to propose changes to the structure of the Judicial Services Commission (JSC).

During a judiciary consultation with the Constitution Review Commission (CRC) yesterday, Justice Temo said that under the current arrangement, the Chief Justice and the President of the Court of Appeal sit on the JSC, which could lead to their disqualification from hearing court cases arising from JSC decisions.

He said this limited the judiciary’s ability to utilise its most senior legal minds in important cases, ultimately affecting the public interest.

To address this, Justice Temo proposed amendments to allow the Chief Justice and the President of the Court of Appeal to nominate representatives to serve on the JSC in their place when necessary.

He also raised concerns about delays in Fiji’s justice system and proposed key reforms to improve efficiency and address governance issues within the judiciary.

Justice Temo said people were increasingly frustrated with slow court processes, warning that the timely delivery of justice remained a critical issue.

“The public are crying out for faster judgments,” he said, urging judges, particularly at the High Court, to improve case management and deliver decisions within reasonable timeframes.

He said the judiciary was working towards reforms aimed at speeding up proceedings, including changes to High Court and Magistrates’ Court rules, the introduction of mediation, and a target to complete cases within two years from start to finish.

Retirement age

Justice Temo also urged amendments to Section 110, saying the current judicial retirement law discriminated against local judges.

He said the law forced local judges to retire at 75, while foreign judges could continue to serve on short-term contracts.

Justice Temo described the situation as discriminatory and inconsistent with constitutional protections.

“This is the only profession where reaching the age of 75 is valued,” he said, stressing that judicial work relied heavily on experience and wisdom.

The proposal has been formally submitted to the commission for consideration.

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