A British barrister, Malcolm Bishop KC has been appointed Lord Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Tonga and president of the Land Court.

Mr Bishop KC will assume office on 2 September, the Supreme Court office told Matangi Tonga today.

His appointment was approved by His Majesty King Tupou VI in Privy Council.

Mr Bishop KC has many years of experience in litigation and legal advice over a wide range of specialisms. He was a founder member in 1972, of 30 Park Place chambers in Cardiff, Wales. He has appeared in courts all over England and Wales as well as the Caribbean, from Magistrates Courts to the Supreme Court and the Privy Council.

The Legal Futures newspaper reported that Mr. Bishop was approached earlier this year for the job.

Tonga's previous Lord Chief Justice, Australian, Michael H. Whitten KC, had his last sitting in the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court in August last year. He served four years in Tonga, from 2 September 2019, and left at the conclusion of his contract.

Justice Petunia Tupou KC is the current Acting Lord Chief Justice, Acting President of the Land Court and Acting President of the Court of Appeal.