JPs are appointed by the Minister for Justice in consultation with the Chief Justice under Section 11 of the Magistrates Court Act 1944. Before a JP can act, he/she must be sworn in and must take an oath of Allegiance and Oath for due Execution of Justice Office. The JP appointment is valid for three years which can be renewed.
To be appointed a JP, the candidate must fulfill the following criteria as per Section 11 of the Magistrates Court Act 1944:
- Must be of good character and ability;
- Must be respected and have good standing in society;
- Must have good knowledge of local customs, cultures and traditions;
- Must be able to maintain independence and impartiality;
- Must be able to keep social distance from his or her immediate community
Additional Criteria:
- A clean police report
- Be a Fiji citizen who resides in Fiji at the time of appointment, and is able to read and speak English fluently
Be able to communicate and interact at all levels and with all types of individuals in his/her community
Information And Document You Must Submit
• Ensure that the application form is filled in block letter
• Cover letter detailing reasons for application
• Current CV detailing community services done and knowledge on local customs, culture and traditions
• Two reference letter from referees stated in the application
• Receipt from Fiji Police on the clearance for adverse record
• TIN letter/ TIN ID
• 2 passport sized photos – certified
• Birth Certificate
• Any other supporting documents
Applications will go through the following process:
Step 1: Application Verification
The Ministry of Justice will:
- Verify details on the application form and liaise with BDM to seek confirmation of details.
- Verify with JP database to confirm any details or of any previous applications.
- Obtain a police clearance report from Fiji Police Clearance Department to check for any previous or current convictions.
Any anomalies in the application will require the applicant to verify and provide an explanation and/or reject the application if the anomalies suggest a deliberate attempt to provide false information to the Ministry of Justice.
Step 2: Interview
Applicants are asked to answer questions and do some practical tests. Based on the interviews further recommendation is made and approval for appointment is given by the Minister for Justice in agreement with the Chief Justice.
Step 3: Induction Training and Swearing In Ceremony
In correspondence to the approval for appointment, the Chief Justice allocates a date for the swearing in ceremony to take place. Successful applicants are required to attend an Induction Training. The training is usually conducted a day before the swearing in ceremony date.
