Heath Appointed Justice of Appeal
Before his current appointment, Mr Heath served as Chief Justice of the Pitcairn Islands from January 2022 until today.
Tuesday 02 July 2024 | 14:48
From left; Justice of Appeal of the Court of Appeal of Fiji, Paul Heath and President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere and Acting Chief Justice Salesi Temo after the the swearing-in ceremony at the State House on July 1, 2024. Photo: DEPTFO News
Fiji’s judiciary welcomed another addition to its ranks following Paul Heath at the State House yesterday.
The newly-appointed Justice of Appeal of the Court of Appeal of Fiji, was ceremoniously sworn-in by the President of the Republic of Fiji, Ratu Wiliame Katonivere, in the presence of Acting Chief Justice Justice Salesi Temo and Chief Registrar Tomasi Bainivalu.
Originally from New Zealand, Mr Heath was admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand in 1978.
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Before his current appointment, Mr Heath served as Chief Justice of the Pitcairn Islands from January 2022 until today.
He served as the Judge of the High Court of New Zealand from March 2002 till April 2018. In 2011 he served Judge of the Court of Appeal of Vanuatu.
Mr Heath was also appointed as an arbitrator in six international commercial arbitrations and over 40 domestic commercial arbitrations, and as an umpire in two arbitrations, between May 2018 and January 2024.
He appeared as counsel in all senior courts in New Zealand that existed prior to his appointment to the High Court Bench in 2002, as well as the Employment Court, Maori Land Court, and Waitangi Tribunal.
Furthermore, during Mr. Heath’s tenure at the High Court of New Zealand, he held, at various times, the positions of Ad hoc member of the Court of Appeal on both the Civil Appeal Division and Criminal Appeal Division, Senior Puisne Judge, and Acting Chief High Court Judge on two occasions, in 2016 and 2017, respectively.
Source: DEPTFO News
