Privy Council Appoints Tonga's New Chief Justice [1]
Wednesday, June 23, 2004 - 16:18. Updated on Monday, May 5, 2014 - 15:02.
The Privy Council of Tonga has appointed Justice Robin M. Webster, currently a part - time Employment Tribunal Chairman, Edinburgh, as the new Chief Justice of Tonga replacing Justice Gordon Ward who has accepted a post with the Court of Appeal of Fiji.
Justice Webster, 64, of Scotland, has previously served as a Supreme Court Judge of Tonga from 1988 -91.
Before becoming the Supreme Court Judge, Justice Webster was in the private practice of law in 1968 until becoming Deputy Secretary of the Law Society of Scotland in 1970 and the Secretary of the Scottish Lawyers European Group from 1971-77. He has worked in the Office of the Solicitor to Secretary of State for Scotland; Legal Draftsman in the Seychelles Government; Assistant Parliamentary Draftsman in Lord Advocate...s Department in London; the Senior Parliamentary Counsel of Kenya Government; and the Attorney General of Tuvalu. He has served as the Temporary Sheriff of Scotland; named as part time Industrial Tribunal Chairman; a Legal Consultant in the Overseas Development Administration; and a full time Employment Tribunal Chairman in Edinburgh.
The Ministry of Justice is pleased that Justice Webster has accepted the appointment.
Justice Ward will be departing Tonga for Fiji on the 28 June after serving as the Chief Justice of Tonga since 1998. He has served the Ministry of Justice and Tonga with great dedication and commitment.