PNG LAW SOCIETY DOES NOT RECOGNIZE KING’S COUNSEL, SAYS PRESIDENT

BY Benjamin KOITAKA

THE Papua New Guinea Law Society does not recognize the recent appointments of King’s Counsels, says President Hubert Namani.

Mr. Namani said this during the 2025 Legal Year Opening in Port Moresby, citing that the recent appointments of six-lawyers to be the Queen’s Counsel in the country were illegal and appointments were not made based on merit.

According to a previous Gazette, the six-Queen’s Counsel appointed includes Rimbink Pato, Luther Wenge, Loani Henoa, Matthew Tamautai, Ian Molley and Levente Attila Jurth.

Mr. Namani further added that while the nation respects the tradition and history of such appointment in the Commonwealth nations, there must be transparent and systems and process in place to appoint people based on reputation and merit.

Mr Namani called of lawyers, judges and magistrate to stand firm in delivering their decisions and remain fruitful in the year 2025.

“While we respect the traditions and history of such appointments in the Commonwealth, we believe that there must be a system for this and the process must be transparent, merit-based, and reflective of the values of our legal system,” Mr. Namani said these in his speech yesterday, during the 2025 Legal Year opening, hosted at St. Martin’s Anglican Church, East Boroko.

“Any appointment to such a prestigious title must be beyond reproach and must command the respect and confidence of the Bench and Bar.

“We must engage in meaningful dialogue to address these concerns and develop a system for such award beyond our 50th anniversary.

“This is why I call on the legal fraternity, judges, magistrates, lawyers, and all officers of the court to stand firm.”