New judge to join Tonga's Court of Appeal [1]
Thursday, September 20, 2012 - 17:48. Updated on Monday, September 9, 2013 - 18:40.
A new judge will join the second session of Tonga's Court of Appeal to be held October 2-12, and hear nine appeal cases, including one by a former Speaker of the Tonga Legislative Assembly, Lord Lasike.
Hon. Ken Handley of Australia replaces Justice James Burchett, who retired after the first session of Tonga's Court of Appeal in April, after 20-years of service.
A spokesperson from the Supreme Court Office in Nuku'alofa said the new judge would join Tonga's two other Court of Appeal judges, Justice Peter Salmon and Justice Michael Moore.
Hon. Ken Handley is a retired judge of the New South Wales Court of Appeal, who retired in January 2012 after 22-years service.
He served as a part time judge of the Fiji Court of Appeal from 1996-2003 and as a part time judge of Fiji's Supreme Court from 2003-2009 until he was dismissed by the military government. Prior to his appointment to the bench he practiced at the Sydney Bar for 30 years with 17 years as Queen's Counsel.
Appeals
The Appeal Court judgements are expected to be delivered on Friday, October 12 at the Supreme Court.
The Court of Appeal has listed four criminal, three civil and two land cases. Lasike's appeal will be held on October 5.
Tonga's Chief Justice Hon Michael Scott convicted Lasike in July on one count of possession of two .22 ammunitions without a licence. He was fined $500 pa'anga and lost his seat in parliament, as a consequence of his conviction.