Two esteemed judges have been officially welcomed into Fiji’s judiciary. Justice Lee James Burney and Justice Gus Andree Wiltens were sworn in at a ceremony held yesterday 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 event was officiated by His Excellency Ratu Wiliame Katonivere, the President of the Republic of Fiji, and was attended by Acting Chief Justice Justice Salesi Temo, Solicitor General Ropate Green, and Chief Registrar Tomasi Bainivalu.
Prior to his current role, Justice Burney was the Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions from 2014, where he was actively involved in appellate-level legal cases and handled numerous appeals in both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. His career also includes serving as a Staff Officer with the Army Legal Services from 2005 to 2013, during which he offered legal advice on various administrative and disciplinary matters and advised on legalities during military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Justice Wiltens brings nearly 50 years of legal expertise from various jurisdictions including New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong, Vanuatu, and the broader Pacific region. His professional experience includes handling litigation, fraud prosecution, and engaging in capacity-building efforts within the legal field. While serving as a District Court Judge in Manukau, he presided over over 200 jury trials, managed significant court renovations, and conducted seminars aimed at legal education.
He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Law from Auckland University and a Master’s Degree in Law from the University of Hong Kong. Between 2018 and 2022, Justice Wiltens served as a Supreme Court Judge in Port Vila before returning to New Zealand as an Acting Warranted District Court Judge in Auckland.