Sir William sworn in as Fiji’s Supreme Court judge

New Zealand Supreme Court judge Sir William Young was yesterday sworn in as a Supreme High Court judge in Fiji’s judiciary.

Sir William took his oath of office at the State House in Suva in the presence of President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere, Acting Chief Justice Salesi Temo, Chief Registrar Tomasi Bainivalu and Solicitor-General Ropate Green.

Prior to this appointment, he was judge of the Supreme Court in New Zealand in 2010.

He retired in April last year.

At a glance:

• Sir William studied law at the Universities of Canterbury and Cambridge;
• He joined the Christchurch firm of R A Young Hunter and Co On his return from the United Kingdom in 1978, and left in 1988 to practise as a barrister;
• Appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1991;
• Appointed to the High Court in 1997;
• Appointed to the Court of Appeal in 2004;
• Became president of the Court of Appeal in 2006;
• Has sat on the Court of Appeal of Seychelles;
• Served on the Court of Appeal of Samoa;
• He now sits when required as an acting judge of the Supreme Court;
• Chaired the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the terrorist attack on Christchurch masjidain on March 15, 2019;
• An honorary Bencher of the Middle Temple;
• An honorary Fellow of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge and the Colonel-Commandant of the New Zealand Army Legal Service; and
• Holds an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Canterbury.

Source: Fiji Government