PNG Judiciary Rejects Controversial King’s Counsel Awards
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea – In a landmark decision, Papua New Guinea’s judiciary has announced it will not recognize the King’s Counsel (KC) titles awarded last year by the Governor-General to several prominent lawyers. Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika made the announcement during the ceremonial opening of the 2025 Legal Year, addressing concerns raised by Hubert Namani, President of the PNG Law Society.
Sir Gibbs explained that the judiciary had extensively discussed the matter during a meeting in October and concluded that the awards would not be acknowledged. He emphasized that the decision was based on adherence to the legal framework rather than political considerations. “The appointment of King’s Counsels must follow the provisions of the Papua New Guinea Lawyers Act, with recommendations coming from the PNG Law Society,” he stated.
The Chief Justice also revealed that the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, in collaboration with Justice Minister and Attorney-General Pila Niningi, had agreed to review the process for awarding King’s Counsel titles. He noted that the issue should be resolved within the legal fraternity rather than being brought before Parliament.
Minister Niningi supported the move, confirming plans to reassess the appointment process. He acknowledged discussions with Namani and expressed his backing for the King’s Counsel honor, provided it is granted through a fair and transparent system. “I support this prestigious title, but it must be awarded correctly. We are committed to reviewing and improving the process,” Niningi said.
Namani highlighted that the PNG Law Society had not recognized the recent KC appointments, stressing the need for a merit-based system consistent with PNG’s legal values. “While we respect the tradition of such appointments in the Commonwealth, the process must be transparent and earn the trust of both the Bench and the Bar,” he remarked.
He urged the legal community to engage in constructive dialogue to address these concerns and establish a robust mechanism for future appointments. “The rule of law cannot defend itself. Remaining silent in the face of injustice is complicity,” Namani asserted, calling on all stakeholders to uphold the integrity of the profession.
This marks a pivotal moment for PNG’s legal fraternity as it strives to ensure that honors like the King’s Counsel are awarded through a credible and equitable process, reinforcing public confidence in the judiciary and the rule of law.
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