Supreme Court of Vanuatu

Last updated
Supreme Court of Vanuatu
JurisdictionCivil matters, Criminal matters, Constitutional matters
Location Port Vila
Authorised by Constitution of Vanuatu
Appeals to Court of Appeal
Appeals from Magistrate's Courts
Number of positions4; one Chief Justice, three puisne judges
Website https://courts.gov.vu/about-us/supreme-court
Chief Justice
Currently Vincent Lunabek
Since2001

Supreme Court of Vanuatu is the superior court of Vanuatu and is based in Port Vila. The Court consists of the Chief Justice and three puisne judges.

Contents

Appeals from the Supreme Court are heard by the Court of Appeal of Vanuatu, which is the supreme appellate court in the country. The Court of Appeal is constituted from time to time as the need arises.

With the exception of the Chief Justice, all members of the judiciary are appointed by the President of Vanuatu, who acts on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission, pursuant to Article 47(2) of the Constitution of Vanuatu). The Chief Justice is appointed by the President after consultation with the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition, pursuant to Article 49(3) of the Constitution. [1]

The present Chief Justice of the Court is Vincent Lunabek. [2]

Chief Justices

Chief Justices of the Court have included:

In 1997, Chief Justice Vaudin d'Imecourt was not allowed in the country, leading to the case of Vaudin d'Imecourt v Manatawai [1997] VUSC 53.

Puisne judges

The Court has had the following past and present puisne judges:

References

  1. "Vanuatu Magistrates Bench Book" (PDF). Pacific Judicial Education Programme. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
  2. Dinnen, Sinclair (November 2010). A Kind of Mending: Restorative Justice in the Pacific Islands. ANU E Press. p. 105. ISBN   978-1-921666-82-7 . Retrieved 14 July 2011.
  3. Kay, Ernest (1989). "Who's who in Australasia and the Far East". Melrose Press.