TONGA'S new Chief Justice Hon Michael Dishington Scott started his new position at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court today, Monday September 27.

The Acting Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, Nunia Mone, said the new Chief Justice arrived in Tonga on Saturday September 25.

Chief Justice Scott, a British national, has lived and worked in the Pacific islands since 1978, serving as a Judge in Kiribati and the Solomon Islands. He was a judge of the High Court of Fiji for 14 years from 1990 to 2004 before being appointed as the Resident Justice of the Fiji Court of Appeal for three years from 2004 to 2007.

HM King George Tupou V in Privy Council appointed the new Chief Justice on August 27.

Chief Justice Scott replaces former Chief Justice Anthony Ford of New Zealand who left Tonga last month.