By Michelle Steven, EMTV News – Port Moresby
Caption: Justice Teresa Berrigan with her daughter, Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia and Justice Royale Thompson.
The swearing in of two female judges has brought the total number of female judges in PNG to six (6).
Judges, Justice Royale Thompson and Justice Teresa Berrigan will be Judges at the National Court & the Supreme Court of Justice for a period of three years at the Waigani Court House.
Justice Royale Thompson was born in Lae and attended Bulolo Primary School from 1960-1965. After graduating from Australia National University in 1978 she was admitted to practice in the National and Supreme Courts of Papua New Guinea in October 1979. She was working with Young & Williams Lawyers before she got sworn in.
After graduating from Monash University Law School in 1994, Justice Teresa Berrigan practised law from both government and non-government organisations. Justice Berrigan has spent more than 10 years working in law and justice in Papua New Guinea.
Justice Thompson and Justice Berrigan both Australians have great experiences working in the public and private sectors. During their swearing-in, Justice Thompson and Justice Berrigan recited the Declaration of Office, Declaration of Loyalty and Judicial Declaration, before the Acting Governor-General Job Pomat who officiated the ceremony.
Also present at the ceremony was Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia and Justice Ambeng Kandakasi who were there to witness the ceremony.
The Chief Justice said that the appointments of Justice Thompson and Justice Berrigan bring the total number of permanent judges in PNG to 39.
He also said that the total number of permanent and acting judges in the country stands at 44. Of this, six are female judges including the two judges.
The judge’s appointment by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission will take effect on the date of declaration of Office.
