The judiciary in Fiji has recently grown with the addition of Paul Heath, who was instated as Justice of Appeal of the Court of Appeal of Fiji at a formal ceremony at the State House. President of the Republic, Ratu Wiliame Katonivere, officiated the swearing-in, with Acting Chief Justice Justice Salesi Temo and Chief Registrar Tomasi Bainivalu in attendance.
Originally from New Zealand, Heath was admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand back in 1978. Notably, prior to his latest role, Heath served as Chief Justice of the Pitcairn Islands from January 2022 to present.
His extensive legal career includes serving as the Judge of the High Court of New Zealand from March 2002 to April 2018, and as a Judge of the Court of Appeal of Vanuatu in 2011. He has also contributed in the arbitration field, being appointed as an arbitrator in six international commercial arbitrations, over 40 domestic commercial arbitrations, and as an umpire in two arbitrations between May 2018 and January 2024.
Heath also boasts a solid history of practice in senior courts in New Zealand before his High Court Bench appointment in 2002, along with the Employment Court, Maori Land Court, and Waitangi Tribunal.
During his tenure at the High Court of New Zealand, he intermittently held positions such as Ad hoc member of the Court of Appeal on both the Civil Appeal Division and Criminal Appeal Division, Senior Puisne Judge, and served as Acting Chief High Court Judge on two separate occasions, in 2016 and 2017.
Source: DEPTFO News