We are not independent of or from accountability, said Chief Justice Salesi Temo at the Law and Justice Talanoa last week.
He emphasized on the importance of dialogue, transparency, and judicial independence in strengthening Fiji’s justice system.
Present at the Talanoa were legal professionals, agency heads, government officials, and development partners.
In his remarks, the Chief Justice reaffirmed the judiciary’s role as the guardian of justice and outlined three fundamental principles of the rule of law.
These were impartiality, procedural fairness and judicial independence.
“Justice, like governance itself, does not operate in isolation. It thrives on cohesion, transparency, and an unwavering commitment to evolution,” Chief Justice Temo said.
He acknowledged that while the judiciary must remain independent, it is not beyond scrutiny.
“We are not independent from criticism, and we should not be. We are not independent of or from accountability.”
