Former CJ Sir Arnold: Unethical, inappropriate to go ‘judge shopping’

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    Sir Arnold Amet                               Bryan Kramer

Former CJ Sir Arnold: Unethical, inappropriate to go ‘judge shopping’

PORT MORESBY: Former Chief Justice Sir Arnold Amet says it is unethical and inappropriate for lawyers to go “judge shopping”.

He made the remarks when testifying as a defence witness in a leadership tribunal looking into 12 allegations of misconduct in office against suspended Madang MP Bryan Kramer on Friday (Dec 16, 2022).

The remarks werer in relation to allegations of social media publications by Kramer when he was the police minister, purportedly scandalizing the judiciary – the conduct of Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika, in suggesting “a conflict of interest”.

The tribunal proceedings were reported by The National:

Sir Arnold testifies in tribunal

December 19, 2022The NationalMain Stories

By CLARISSA MOI
FORMER chief justice Sir Arnold Amet says it is unethical and inappropriate for lawyers to go ‘judge shopping’.
He made this remarks when testifying as a defence witness in a leadership tribunal looking into allegations of misconduct in office against suspended Madang MP Bryan Kramer on Friday.
This was in relation to allegations of social media publications by Kramer when he was the police minister, purportedly scandalising the judiciary — the conduct of Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika, in suggesting ‘a conflict of interest’.
Kramer’s lawyer Miglshi Giruakonda asked Sir Arnold for his opinion in relation to ex-prime minister Peter O’Neill’s lawyer George Lau’s letter to the chief justice to issue directions to deal with O’Neill’s warrant of arrest case in October 2019.
“That is unethical for lawyers to do that. I wouldn’t have done that. The matter has already been dealt with by another judge (Justice Nicholas Miviri),” Sir Arnold said
“Don’t go judge shopping, wanting the chief justice to hear your case. That is unprofessional. They have placed the chief justice in an untenable position to direct Justice Miviri to hear the matter.”
Giruakonda further asked Amet whether Kramer’s post, that read: “A relevant matter to note is that the Chief Justice was only recently appointed by O’Neill late last year…”, would suggest a conflict of interest.
“There is a perception of a potential conflict of interest,” Sir Arnold said. “Again, the lawyers have put the chief justice in a position to compromise his judiciary independence and integrity to deal with matters which they shouldn’t have.”
Sir Arnold said the primary facts were not disputed given that Sir Gibbs was appointed by the O’Neill-led government.
Giruakonda also asked Sir Arnold for his opinion in relation to Kramer’s Facebook publication which he was alleged to have also published materials scandalising the judiciary and accusing O’Neill and his lawyers for filing a fake warrant of arrest to deceive and mislead the court in 2019.
Sir Arnold said, in his opinion, the letter was “explicitly requesting the Chief Justice to intervene and hear the matter and I describe it as inappropriate”. On the allegation of publishing a letter of complaint to the police by Sir Gibbs, Sir Arnold said if there was a complaint laid against someone, that person had the right to find out what the complaints were so they could be prepared to respond. The tribunal returns on Jan 16 for status conference.

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