Tonga’s new Chief Justice from Australia [1]
Wednesday, July 31, 2019 - 21:25
Michael Hargreaves Whitten QC has been appointed as Tonga’s new Lord Chief Justice.
The Supreme Court office confirmed today the new appointment. He will join the Tonga Supreme Court in Nuku'alofa on September 2.
Victorian Bar stated on July 30, that Mr Whitten was admitted to practice in Queensland, and has practiced law for over 30-years, with broad experience in various aspects of the profession. He worked at the Public Defender’s Office in Brisbane from 1986-1988, and then as a clerk to Judge John Kimmins of the Queensland District Court from 1988-1989.
Prior to the Queensland Bar in 1990 where he practiced principally in criminal, common law and family law matters, he worked for a year in commercial litigation at Blake Dawson Waldron (now Ashurst).
In 1996, he moved to Victoria and signed the Victorian Bar Roll.
Mr Justice Whitten has practiced predominantly in civil and commercial litigation, international arbitration and specialized in building and construction disputes. He took silk in 2015.
A Judicial Appointments and Discipline Panel of the Privy Council announced the new Chief Justice’s appointment by King Tupou VI.
He replaces Lord Chief Justice Owen Paulsen who has been appointed as an Associate Judge at the High Court in New Zealand.