By Mataeliga Pio Sioa
Chief Justice Satiu Simativa Perese may not preside this week in the Friday 16 July 2021 Court of Appeal hearing, if the request by the Human Rights Protection party is granted.
The political party has requested the Judicial Services Commission for His Honour not to sit at the hearing of the ‘under the tent swearing-in’ appeal of the Supreme Court ruling.
The HRPP request stated in a letter signed by the party Secretary, Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi, was addressed to the Secretary of the Judicial Services Commission.
Chief Justice Satiu was also copied in the letter that stated the request is after the party members “… have had opportunity to review the appeal proceedings”.
“Given the magnitude of the issues before the Court, the submission of our formal complaint (which is now public knowledge), we submit that it is in the public interest for the Hon. Chief Justice to recuse himself from the Court of Appeal proceedings.”
The letter also followed up on “…our original complaint and later request for an overseas Judge to preside over matters relates to the HRPP.”
There has been no response yet from the Judicial Commission to the HRPP request and official complaint submitted in an earlier letter about the judges of the Supreme Court.
The HRPP has suffered a series of court petition losses that has left them puzzled over some of the ruling.
The Appeal Court hearing on the ‘under the tent-swearing in’ ruled illegal in the Supreme Court will be anxiously watched by both political parties.
Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi is left to ponder and puzzle over what the legal implications will be once the Appeals Court handed down its decision.