Supreme Court of Vanuatu explained

Court Name:Supreme Court of Vanuatu
Authority:Constitution of Vanuatu
Appealsto:Court of Appeal
Appealsfrom:Magistrate's Courts
Positions:4; one Chief Justice, three puisne judges
Website:https://courts.gov.vu/about-us/supreme-court
Chiefjudgetitle:Chief Justice
Chiefjudgename:Vincent Lunabek
Termstart:2001
Jurisdiction:Civil matters, Criminal matters, Constitutional matters
Location:Port Vila

Supreme Court of Vanuatu is the superior court of Vanuatu and is based in Port Vila. The Court consists of the Chief Justice and three puisne judges.

Appeals from the Supreme Court are heard by the Court of Appeal of Vanuatu, which is the supreme appellate court in the country. The Court of Appeal is constituted from time to time as the need arises.

With the exception of the Chief Justice, all members of the judiciary are appointed by the President of Vanuatu, who acts on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission, pursuant to Article 47(2) of the Constitution of Vanuatu). The Chief Justice is appointed by the President after consultation with the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition, pursuant to Article 49(3) of the Constitution.[1]

The present Chief Justice of the Court is Vincent Lunabek.[2]

Chief Justices

Chief Justices of the Court have included:

In 1997, Chief Justice Vaudin d'Imecourt was not allowed in the country, leading to the case of Vaudin d'Imecourt v Manatawai [1997] VUSC 53.

Puisne judges

The Court has had the following past and present puisne judges:

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Vanuatu Magistrates Bench Book. Pacific Judicial Education Programme. 23 June 2016.
  2. Book: Dinnen, Sinclair. A Kind of Mending: Restorative Justice in the Pacific Islands. 14 July 2011. November 2010. ANU E Press. 978-1-921666-82-7. 105.