Two notable judges have officially joined Fiji’s judiciary. Justice Lee James Burney and Justice Gus Andree Wiltens were sworn in during a ceremony at the State House in Suva.
Justice Burney has been appointed as Puisne Judge of the High Court, while Justice Wiltens will serve as Justice of Appeal in the Court of Appeal. The swearing-in ceremony was conducted by His Excellency Ratu Wiliame Katonivere, the President of Fiji, and was attended by Acting Chief Justice His Lordship Justice Salesi Temo, Solicitor General Ropate Green, and Chief Registrar Tomasi Bainivalu.
Prior to his appointment, Justice Burney worked as Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) starting in 2014. His role at the ODPP involved significant participation in appellate-level legal cases, managing numerous appeals in both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.
Justice Burney has a rich background with the Army Legal Services, where he served as a Staff Officer from 2005 to 2013. His responsibilities included advising military commanders on administrative and disciplinary matters, service grievance procedures, and inquiries. He also provided vital legal counsel on domestic and international laws relevant to UK combat forces during operations in Iraq (2006) and Afghanistan (2011), serving as Deputy Legal Advisor in Kabul, where he assisted senior commanders on lawful combat operations and mentored junior lawyers.
Justice Wiltens brings nearly 50 years of extensive legal experience from New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong, Vanuatu, and the broader Pacific region. His areas of expertise encompass litigation, fraud prosecution, court adjudication, and enhancing capacity within the legal sector. Throughout his career, he has managed complex prosecutions and led successful legal teams.
As a District Court Judge in Manukau, Justice Wiltens presided over more than 200 jury trials, initiated court renovations, and facilitated educational seminars. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Law from Auckland University in 1976 and a Master’s Degree in Law from the University of Hong Kong in 1994. From 2018 to 2022, he served as a Supreme Court Judge in Port Vila, after which he returned to New Zealand as an Acting Warranted District Court Judge at the Manukau Court in Auckland.