Two prominent judges have been officially welcomed into Fiji’s judiciary. Justice Lee James Burney and Justice Gus Andree Wiltens were sworn in during a ceremony held at the State House in Suva.
Justice Burney has been appointed as a Puisne Judge of the High Court, while Justice Wiltens will serve as a Justice of Appeal on the Court of Appeal. The swearing-in ceremony was conducted by the President of Fiji, His Excellency Ratu Wiliame Katonivere, and attended by key officials including Acting Chief Justice Justice Salesi Temo, Solicitor General Ropate Green, and Chief Registrar Tomasi Bainivalu.
Prior to his new role, Justice Burney served as Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions since 2014, where he was actively involved in notable appellate legal proceedings, handling numerous appeals in both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. His extensive experience includes a period with the Army Legal Services from 2005 to 2013, where he provided legal advice on various matters, including administrative and disciplinary actions. Burney also offered legal guidance on domestic and international law for UK combat forces during missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, and acted as Deputy Legal Advisor at a multinational headquarters in Kabul.
Justice Wiltens comes with nearly 50 years of legal expertise across several regions including New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong, Vanuatu, and the Pacific. His background encompasses litigation, fraud prosecution, court adjudication, and legal capacity-building initiatives. Throughout his career, he has managed complex prosecutions and directed effective legal teams. As a District Court Judge in Manukau, he presided over over 200 jury trials and played a key role in court renovations and educational seminars. Wiltens holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Law from Auckland University (1976) and a Master’s Degree in Law from the University of Hong Kong (1994). He previously served as a Supreme Court Judge in Port Vila from 2018 to 2022 before returning to New Zealand as an Acting Warranted District Court Judge at the Manukau Court in Auckland.