Mt Hagen Resident Judge, Justice Kenneth Frank urged Lawyers to use Mediation services.
Justice Frank said this today in Mt Hagen at the opening of the 2018 Legal Year.
Members of the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary and Correctional Service also attended the event.
Justice Kenneth Frank encouraged Lawyers this morning in Mt Hagen to maximise the use of mediation service that are available to everyone.
He said lawyers must be skilled to dispose cases to mediation to be able to serve their clients and the public.
Justice Frank said Mediation training is available and interested Judges, Magistrates and Lawyers must attend the course to gain knowledge to handle Alternate Dispute Resolution or ADR to resolve conflicts and disputes.
Currently, there are 851 criminal cases pending at the Mt Hagen National Court.
There are also about 1000 civil cases that need to be resolved.
Mt Hagen National Court disposes only 136 cases last year.
Justice Frank said the numbers of matters that are disposed are equal to the number of matters that are coming to the Courts.
He said even though there are three resident judges, they are not able to do all the work. Justice Frank urged lawyers to work closely with police to get evidences and witnesses to court so that matters are fast tracked.
He said ADR or mediation is an alternate way to achieve timely and effective outcomes.
Mediation helps by bringing disputed parties to a round table to explore disputes and enable disputed parties to address their problem and come to an understanding.
