Two prominent judges have officially joined Fiji’s judiciary. Justice Lee James Burney and Justice Gus Andree Wiltens were sworn in yesterday at the State House in Suva.
Justice Burney has been appointed as a Puisne Judge of the High Court, while Justice Wiltens takes on the role of Justice of Appeal in the Court of Appeal. The swearing-in ceremony was conducted by His Excellency Ratu Wiliame Katonivere, the President of the Republic 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 this appointment, Justice Burney served as the Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions from 2014, where he played a crucial role in appellate-level legal matters, managing numerous appeals in the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. His career also included a position as Staff Officer with the Army Legal Services from 2005 to 2013, where he provided legal advice on various administrative and disciplinary matters to military commanders and contributed to the legal framework for UK combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Justice Wiltens brings almost five decades of extensive legal experience from countries including New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong, Vanuatu, and the broader Pacific region. His vast expertise encompasses litigation, fraud prosecution, court adjudication, and legal profession development. As a District Court Judge in Manukau, he presided over over 200 jury trials and led initiatives for court renovations and legal education.
He possesses a Bachelor’s Degree in Law from Auckland University obtained in 1976 and a Master’s Degree in Law from the University of Hong Kong earned in 1994. From 2018 to 2022, Justice Wiltens served as 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.