High Court of the South Pacific

The High Court of the South Pacific is the supreme judicial authority of the South Pacific.

Role

The High Court holds exclusive judicial authority in the Coalition; it is the only body able to conduct criminal trials. If any general law, regulation, directive, determination or any other official act of government violates the Charter or any other constitutional law, the High Court may declare it void. It can also reconcile contradictions within law, and can interpret and clarify laws when presented with a Legal Question.

The High Court consists of one Chief Justice and at least two Associate Justices. The Chief Justice is the primary operator of the High Court, and cannot hold other government positions. Associate Justices are appointed by the Cabinet and confirmed by the Assembly; when there is a vacancy, a Chief Justice is selected among the Associate Justices. The Chief Justice is currently Kringalia and the Associate Justices are Roavin and Belschaft.

Procedures

The procedures of the High Court are laid out in the Judicial Act.

History

For much of the South Pacific's history, the role of the High Court was filled by the Minister of Justice. The Supreme Court was established in the 2012 Great Council. It was renamed to the High Court in March 2014. Justices were regularly elected for four-month terms until the Great Council of 2015, when Justice became a permanent appointment.

All past High Court cases and legal questions are archived in the Online Rulings Consultation System.

Further Reading

• The Charter of the Coalition of the South Pacific, VIII. The High Court
• Online Rulings Consultation System
• Judicial Act