‘Elisapeti Langi appointed Acting Supreme Court judge [1]
Wednesday, August 19, 2020 - 20:08
‘Elisapeti Langi was appointed Acting Judge of the Supreme Court for an initial period of four-months, starting September 1.
Lord Chief Justice Whitten said today that over the last 12-18 months there had been a surge in class A drug-related offences, causing significantly increased caseloads in the Supreme Court criminal division.
“Without additional judicial resources, many cases would be at risk of inordinate delays, which poses a threat to the due and fair administration of justice in Tonga,” he said.
Class A drugs include methamphetamine.
An additional judge was needed to assist in meeting this challenge.
On July 30, King Tupou VI, in Council approved Mrs Langi's appointment as an Acting Judge of the Supreme Court under clause 88(2) of the Constitution of Tonga.
The Chief Justice said that expressions of interest were invited from the entire Tongan legal profession. Mrs Langi had been serving for the past three years as a Senior Magistrate. Before that she was an Assistant Senior Crown Prosecutor for ten years.
During her career she successfully prosecuted the first case under the Computer Crimes Act, and as counsel assisted the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the MV Princess Ashika.
Ms Langi holds a Bachelor of Laws degree, a Masters in Criminology and other legal academic qualifications. She was awarded an Australian Leadership Award in 2014.