Two esteemed judges have officially joined the judiciary in Fiji. Justice Lee James Burney and Justice Gus Andree Wiltens were sworn in during a ceremony held at the State House in Suva yesterday.
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 overseen by the President of the Republic of Fiji, Ratu Wiliame Katonivere, and was attended by Acting Chief Justice Justice Salesi Temo, Solicitor General Ropate Green, and Chief Registrar Tomasi Bainivalu.
Prior to his new role, Justice Burney held the position of Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) from 2014, where he was involved in a range of appellate legal proceedings, managing numerous appeals in both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. His impressive background includes serving as a Staff Officer with the Army Legal Services from 2005 to 2013, where he advised military commanders on various issues, including administrative and disciplinary actions, grievance procedures, and service inquiries. His legal expertise was also pivotal in providing advice on domestic and international law for UK combat forces during operations in Iraq in 2006 and Afghanistan in 2011. During his time in Kabul, he worked as Deputy Legal Advisor within a multinational headquarters, offering counsel on the lawful conduct of combat operations while mentoring junior lawyers.
Justice Wiltens brings with him nearly fifty years of legal experience from New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong, Vanuatu, and across the Pacific region. His areas of expertise include litigation, fraud prosecution, court adjudication, and legal capacity building. Throughout his career, Justice Wiltens has managed complex prosecutions and led successful legal teams. Serving as a District Court Judge in Manukau, he presided over over 200 jury trials and was instrumental in court renovations and 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, Justice Wiltens was a Supreme Court Judge in Port Vila before returning to New Zealand as an Acting Warranted District Court Judge at the Manukau Court in Auckland.