Politics of the Cook Islands

The Chief Justice of the Cook Islands is the head of the Cook Islands judiciary. They preside over the High Court of the Cook Islands and serve as a member of the Cook Islands Court of Appeal. The office was established by the Cook Islands Constitution.[1][2]

The Chief Justice is appointed by the King's Representative on the advice of the Executive Council.[3] They must be qualified to sit on the High Court, meaning that they must have either served as a justice of the High Court of New Zealand, the Court of Appeal of New Zealand, or the Supreme Court of New Zealand, or have practiced as a barrister in New Zealand or a country with an equivalent legal system for at least seven years.[4] When the position of Chief Justice is vacant, or the holder is absent or incapacitated, the senior judge of the High Court serves as Acting Chief Justice.[5]

The Chief Justice also acts in place of the King's Representative if that position is vacant or the appointee is absent or unable to perform their duties.[6]

List of office holders

References

  1. ^ Constitution of the Cook Islands, s49(2).
  2. ^ "Constitution of the Cook Islands". Pacific Islands Legal Information Institute. Archived from the original on 11 July 2006. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  3. ^ Constitution of the Cook Islands, s52.
  4. ^ Constitution of the Cook Islands, s49(3).
  5. ^ Constitution of the Cook Islands, s51.
  6. ^ Constitution of the Cook Islands, s7.
  7. ^ "Sir Gaven Donne KBE". Scoop Media. 30 March 2010. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  8. ^ "Former judge Sir Graham Speight dies". Otago Daily Times. 21 July 2008. Retrieved 1 August 2008.
  9. ^ Taylor, Alister, ed. (2001). New Zealand Who's Who Aotearoa 2001. Auckland: Alister Taylor Publishers. p. 729. ISSN 1172-9813.
  10. ^ "David A R Williams QC Honoured". Auckland Law School. 26 January 2017. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  11. ^ "New Chief Justice sworn in". Cook Islands News. 14 May 2010. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  12. ^ "New Chief Justice for Cook Islands". New Zealand Law Society. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  13. ^ "Media Release: Judicial Appointments". Ministry of Justice. 6 December 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
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