EXPERIENCED LEGAL MIND APPOINTED TO NAURU SUPREME COURT
In a further sign of the Nauruan
Government's ongoing commitment to judicial excellence, the newly
appointed Registrar of the Nauru Supreme Court brings forty years
of legal and diplomatic experience to the role.
Filimone Jitoko was appointed after the former Registrar was named
the new Director of Public Prosecutions.
Mr Jitoko boasts a wealth of experience within the legal,
diplomatic and judicial fraternity, having held many notable
positions across the Pacific since obtaining a Bachelor of
Laws(LLB) from New Zealand's Victoria University in 1976.
Holding certificates in Multilateral Negotiations (1980 - New
York) and International Diplomacy (1980- Washington DC), Mr jitoko
served as Fiji's Secretary to the New York and Washington Mission
before returning to Fiji and filling the role of Chief Registrar of
that country's Supreme Court from 1985 to 1987.
For the ensuing six years, he was the Solicitor General to the
Fiji Government and from 1993 to 1996, served as the Secretary to
Cabinet. Diplomatic postings then called and he spent the next four
years serving as Fiji's Ambassador to Israel, Brussels and
Denmark.
In 2002, Mr Jitoko returned to Fiji and was appointed a High Court
Judge, holding that position until 2009.
Since then, Mr Jitoko has been a Senior Lecturer at the University
of the South Pacific at the Marine Studies Division and the School
of Law in Suva.
Nauru Justice Minister David Adeang said Mr Jitoko will add to the
wealth of experience and expertise displayed across the country's
reformed legal system which includes three highly respected Supreme
Court judges.
"The Waqa Government has prioritised reform of our legal system,
which under previous governments has been riddled with cronyism and
corruption.
"Despite criticism from some overseas media outlets with no
knowledge of our system and the past problems, we have held fast to
the commitment we made to the Nauruan people when we were elected,
and the result is a more accountable legal system, a complete
separation of powers and better justice for Nauruans."