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Supreme Court Act 2018


REPUBLIC OF NAURU

SUPREME COURT ACT 2018

______________________________

No. 15 of 2018
______________________________


An Act for the Supreme Court of the Republic and for related purposes


Certified: 10th May 2018

Table of Contents

PART 1 – PRELIMINARY
1 Short title
2 Commencement
3 Definitions


PART 2 – THE SUPREME COURT
4 The Supreme Court
5 Seal


PART 3 – COMPOSITION OF THE SUPREME COURT
6 Composition of the Supreme Court
7 Exercise of jurisdiction of the Supreme Court
8 Powers of Judges
9 Qualification for appointment as Chief Justice and Judge
10 Tenure of Chief Justice and Judges
11 Oath or affirmation


PART 4 – OFFICERS OF THE COURT
12 Registrar of the Courts
13 Duties of the Registrar
14 Deputy Registrars
15 Powers of Deputy Registrars
16 Other officers


PART 5 – JURISDICTION
17 Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court


PART 6 –POWERS OF THE SUPREME COURT
18 Power of Supreme Court to refer to arbitration
19 Power of Supreme Court to refer to referee
20 Power to order arrest of absconding debtors
21 Power of Judges to administer oath or affirmations
22 Power to recuse
23 Power to transfer from the Supreme Court to the District Court
24 Power to award costs
25 Power to adjourn
26 Power to admit legal practitioners
27 Powers and jurisdiction in relation to corporations


PART 7 – CONSTITUTIONAL APPLICATION, INTERPRETATION, EFFECT AND REDRESS
28 Exercise of jurisdiction
29 Application
30 Reference by the subordinate court by way of case stated on the Constitution or an important question of law
31 Limitation on applications for Constitutional interpretation


PART 8 – PROBATE CAUSES AND MATTERS
32 Application for grant or revocation of probate or administration
33 Resealing
34 Caveats
35 Records of grants
36 Power of the Supreme Court in relation to personal representatives


PART 9 – SUPERVISORY JURISDICTION
37 Supreme Court’s supervisory jurisdiction


PART 10 – APPEALS FROM THE DISTRICT COURT IN CRIMINAL CAUSES OR MATTERS
38 Appeal to the Supreme Court in criminal causes and matters
39 Limitation of appeal on plea of guilty and in petty cases
40 Time for filing appeal or application for leave to appeal
41 Appeal to be by way of notice of appeal
42 Form and contents of notice of appeal
43 Respondent’s notice
44 Respondent’s notice to be treated as notice of appeal
45 Amendment to the notice of appeal and respondent’s notice
46 Who may prepare the notice of appeal
47 Extension of time
48 Admission to bail and suspension of sentence pending appeal
49 Suspension of order for restoration or payment of compensation, expenses, etc.
50 Notice of hearing
51 Costs
52 Discontinuance of appeal
53 Determination of appeal by the Supreme Court in ordinary cases
54 Powers of the Supreme Court in special cases
55 Powers of the Supreme Court to adduce fresh evidence
56 No appeal on point of form or matter of variance unless raised in the District Court
57 Supreme Court order on appeal to be certified to the District Court
58 Right of appellant to be present
59 Revisionary power of the Supreme Court
60 Power of the Resident Magistrate to call for records of the District Court and to report to the Supreme Court
61 Powers of the Supreme Court on revision
62 Discretion of the Supreme Court as to hearing parties
63 Number of Judges on revision
64 Supreme Court order on revision to be certified to the District Court


PART 11 – APPEALS FROM THE DISTRICT COURT IN CIVIL CAUSES AND MATTERS
65 Appeal to the Supreme Court in civil causes and matters
66 Appeal to be by way of notice of appeal
67 Time for appeal
68 Security for costs
69 Respondent’s notice
70 Amendment to the notice of appeal and respondent’s notice
71 Powers of the Supreme Court
72 Supreme Court order to be certified to the District Court
73 Fresh evidence


PART 12 – PROCEDURE AND RULES FOR APPEALS FROM DISTRICT COURT
74 Appeals to be by way of rehearing
75 Procedure where appeal not prosecuted
76 Rules for appeals
77 Appeals from Arrest of Judgment


PART 13 – MODE OF CONDUCTING PROCEEDINGS OF THE SUPREME COURT
78 Mode of conducting proceedings of the Supreme Court
79 Language of the Supreme Court
80 Sittings of the Court


PART 14 – WITNESSES
81 Summoning witnesses
82 Compelling attendance of witness
83 Prisoners may be brought to give evidence
84 Refusal to give evidence
85 How allowances to witnesses are to be defrayed in civil cases
86 Inspection of site, property or fixed evidence
87 Copies of and access to records of evidence
88 Recording of evidence


PART 15 – ENFORCEMENT OF JUDGMENTS, DECISIONS AND ORDERS OF THE SUPREME COURT
89 Powers of the Supreme Court to enforce judgments, decisions and orders


PART 16 – EXECUTION OF THE PROCESS OF THE COURTS
90 Commissioner of Police to be responsible for execution of process of the Courts
91 Police to obey orders and directions of Judges
92 Execution of process
93 Execution of warrants
94 Execution of sentence


PART 17 – FEES AND FUNDS IN THE SUPREME COURT
95 Fees
96 Courts Trust Fund and securities deposited in court
97 Moneys in Fund and securities deposited to be held in trust by Registrar
98 Republic to pay bank charges and be liable for loss of moneys and securities
99 Rules relating to the Courts Trust Fund


PART 18 – REPRESENTATION OF PARTIES
100 Representation of the Republic and public officers
101 Representation of parties
102 Exercise of power of transfer
103 Judgment of District Court may be removed into Supreme Court


PART 19 – PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE
104 Practice and procedure


PART 20 – PROTECTION OF JUDGES AND OFFICERS OF THE SUPREME COURT
105 Protection of Judges and officers of the Supreme Court


PART 21 – AFFIDAVITS
106 Appointment of Commissioners
107 Swearing of affidavits outside the Republic


PART 22 – CONTEMPT OF COURT
108 Contempt of court


PART 23 - MISCELLANEOUS
109 Courts not to be held on certain days
110 Vacations
111 Common law and the law of equity


PART 24 – RULES OF THE COURT
112 Rules of the Court


PART 25 - SAVINGS AND TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS
113 Imperial enactments ceasing to have effect in the Republic
114 Judicial officers to continue in office
115 Other officers of court to continue in office
116 Proceedings, etc, continue under relevant Act


PART 26 – CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS AND REPEAL
117 Consequential amendments and repeal
118 General amendments as to references
119 Repeal

Enacted by the Parliament of Nauru as follows:

PART 1 – PRELIMINARY

  1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the Supreme Court Act 2018.

  1. Commencement

This Act commences on 15 May 2018.

  1. Definitions

In this Act:

‘accused’ means a person charged with an offence in a criminal cause or matter;

‘barrister and solicitor’ means a person entitled to practise as a barrister and solicitor under the Legal Practitioners Act 1973;

‘cause or matter’ includes any appeal, action, suit or other original proceeding in any Court between the person originating the proceeding and one or more other parties as defendant or respondent, and includes any original criminal proceeding;

‘chambers’ means not in open court;

‘Chief Justice’ means the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court;

‘Commissioner for Oaths’ means a person who is a Commissioner for Oaths either by virtue of appointment under the provisions of section 106 of this Act or ex officio under the provisions of any other section of this Act or under any other written law;

‘Commissioner of Police’ means the public officer in charge of the Nauru Police Force including a public officer appointed to act as the Commissioner of Police;

‘criminal cause or matter’ includes offences established under any written law;

‘defendant’ means a person served or intended to be served with any application to the Supreme Court for the exercise of its civil jurisdiction;

‘District Court’ means the District Court formerly established under the Courts Act 1972 and which continues under the District Court Act 2018;

‘Fund’ means the Courts Trust Fund established under section 96 of this Act;

‘heard’ includes tried;

‘hearing’ includes trial;

‘judgment, decision or order’ where applicable, includes decree, conviction and sentence;

‘Judge’ unless otherwise stated refers to Judges of the Supreme Court;

‘lay magistrate’ means any magistrate other than the Resident Magistrate;

‘legal representative’ means barrister and solicitor or a pleader duly admitted to practice law under the Legal Practitioners Act 1973 or any other written law;

‘magistrate’ means a person appointed under the provisions of section 5 of the District Court Act 2018 to be the Resident Magistrate, a lay magistrate or a person appointed to act as the Resident Magistrate;

‘plaintiff’ means a person who makes an application (other than an interlocutory application) to the Supreme Court for the exercise of its civil or criminal jurisdiction;

‘pleader’ means a person qualified to practice as a pleader in Nauru in accordance with the Legal Practitioners Act 1973;

‘Registrar’ means the Registrar of the Courts appointed under section 12;

‘Resident Magistrate’ means a person appointed under the District Court Act 2018 to be, or to act as, the Resident Magistrate;

‘rules of the court’ means rules of the court made under, or continued in force by, any law for the time being in force;

‘Supreme Court’ means the Supreme Court established by Article 48 of the Constitution.

PART 2 – THE SUPREME COURT

  1. The Supreme Court
  2. Seal

PART 3 – COMPOSITION OF THE SUPREME COURT

  1. Composition of the Supreme Court
  2. Exercise of jurisdiction of the Supreme Court
  3. Powers of Judges
  4. Qualification for appointment as Chief Justice and Judge

A person is not qualified to be appointed as the Chief Justice or a Judge unless he or she is entitled to practice as a barrister and solicitor in the Republic and has been so entitled for not less than 5 years.

  1. Tenure of Chief Justice and Judges
  2. Oath or affirmation

PART 4 – OFFICERS OF THE COURT

  1. Registrar of the Courts
  2. Duties of the Registrar
  3. Deputy Registrars

The Deputy Registrars shall be appointed by the Minister after consultation with the Chief Justice.

  1. Powers of Deputy Registrars
  2. Other officers

PART 5 – JURISDICTION

  1. Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court

The jurisdiction of the Supreme Court includes:

(a) the jurisdiction vested in it under the Constitution and any other written law that it had prior to the commencement of this Act;

(b) the jurisdiction conferred on it by this Act or any other written law;

(c) original and appellate jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters conferred to it by the Constitution, this Act or any written law;

(d) the powers and jurisdiction as may from time to time be vested in it under the Constitution, this Act or any other written law;

(e) admiralty jurisdiction;

(f) the power and authority to appoint and control guardians of infants and their estates;

(g) probate jurisdiction;

(h) the jurisdiction for winding up and bankruptcy related proceedings;

(i) matrimonial, family and adoption related jurisdiction;

(j) appellate jurisdiction under the Constitution, this Act or any other written law; and

(k) inherent jurisdiction.

PART 6 –POWERS OF THE SUPREME COURT

  1. Power of Supreme Court to refer to arbitration
  2. Power of Supreme Court to refer to referee

(a) the whole cause or matter if:


(i) it requires any prolonged examination of documents or any scientific or local investigation which cannot, in the opinion of the Supreme Court, conveniently be made before it;

(ii) the question in dispute consists wholly or in part of matters of account; or

(iii) the parties consent; or

(b) any interlocutory issues arising in the cause or matter to which the parties consent.

(2) Where any cause, matter or question is referred under subsection (1), the Supreme Court may:


(a) direct how the reference shall be conducted;

(b) remit any report for further inquiry and report; or

(c) on consideration of any report, give such judgment, decision or order.

(3) The Supreme Court may, after deciding or reserving any question of liability, refer to a referee any issues relating to accounts in dispute between the parties and, after deciding the question of liability, give judgment, decision or order on the referee’s report.


(4) This section does not apply to criminal causes or matters.

20 Power to order arrest of absconding debtors

(1) The Supreme Court may, on an application of a party to a proceeding to recover an amount of money, issue a warrant to arrest a defendant in the proceeding and bring the defendant before the Supreme Court.

(2) A warrant shall not be issued unless the Supreme Court is satisfied that:

(3) The defendant shall be brought before the Supreme Court unless the amount claimed in the proceeding is paid to the plaintiff before the warrant is executed.

(4) The Supreme Court may:

(5) A person who is remanded in custody shall be brought before the Supreme Court within 7 days of the date of the order for review and such other orders as the Supreme Court deems appropriate for the purpose of this section.

(6) Where a defendant arrested under the warrant in subsection (1) deposits in the Supreme Court the amount shown in the warrant and costs, he or she shall be released and the amount paid shall be retained:

(7) The Supreme Court may:

(8) Where a judgment, decision or order is given in favour of the defendant, the Supreme Court may make such inquiries and award such compensation to the defendant to be paid by the plaintiff.

(9) The practice and procedure for the purposes of this section may be prescribed by the rules of the court.

(10) A person aggrieved by an interlocutory or final judgment, decision or order of the Supreme Court under this section may appeal to the Nauru Court of Appeal within 30 days of the judgment, decision or order being made.

21 Power of Judges to administer oath or affirmations

A Judge shall have the power:

(a) to administer oaths and take affirmations and declarations;

(b) to make such decrees and orders; and

(c) to issue such process and exercise such powers judicial or administrative, -

in relation to the administration of justice as shall from time to time be prescribed by the Constitution, this Act or any other written law.

  1. Power to recuse
  2. Power to transfer from the Supreme Court to the District Court
  3. Power to award costs

The Supreme Court shall have the discretion to award such costs in a cause or matter as it deems fit.

  1. Power to adjourn
  2. Power to admit legal practitioners

Where the Chief Justice is unable to preside over a petition for admission to practise as a barrister and solicitor in the Republic under the Legal Practitioners Act 1973, a Judge or the Registrar may preside over such application.

  1. Powers and jurisdiction in relation to corporations

In relation to corporations, the Supreme Court shall exercise all such powers and jurisdiction vested to it under the Corporations Act 1972, this Act and any other written law.

PART 7 – CONSTITUTIONAL APPLICATION, INTERPRETATION, EFFECT AND REDRESS

  1. Exercise of jurisdiction

The jurisdiction and powers conferred to the Supreme Court under Articles 14, 54 and any other Articles of the Constitution may be exercised by a single Judge.

  1. Application
  2. Reference by the subordinate court by way of case stated on the Constitution or an important question of law
(5) The Secretary for Justice and the Director of Public Prosecutions under subsection (4), shall be entitled to appear and be heard in the determination of the constitutional question before the Supreme Court.

(6) The Registrar shall notify the subordinate court by which the constitutional question was referred of the decision of the Supreme Court.
  1. Limitation on applications for Constitutional interpretation

No application for the interpretation of the Constitution shall be made in any proceedings other than this Part of the Act.

PART 8 – PROBATE CAUSES AND MATTERS

  1. Application for grant or revocation of probate or administration
  2. Resealing

The Supreme Court shall have the power and jurisdiction to reseal an overseas grant of probate or letters of administration.

  1. Caveats
  2. Records of grants

The Registrar shall keep and maintain the records of all grants under this Part.

  1. Power of the Supreme Court in relation to personal representatives

The Supreme Court shall summon the person named as the executor in a will to prove or renounce probate of the will and do such other things concerning the will as the Supreme Court had power to order such a person to do immediately before the commencement of this Act.

PART 9 – SUPERVISORY JURISDICTION

  1. Supreme Court’s supervisory jurisdiction

PART 10 – APPEALS FROM THE DISTRICT COURT IN CRIMINAL CAUSES OR MATTERS

  1. Appeal to the Supreme Court in criminal causes and matters
  2. Limitation of appeal on plea of guilty and in petty cases
  3. Time for filing appeal or application for leave to appeal

A person who seeks to appeal a judgment, decision or order of the District Court under this Part shall file and serve a notice of appeal within 21 days of the delivery of the judgment, decision or order.

  1. Appeal to be by way of notice of appeal
  2. Form and contents of notice of appeal
  3. Respondent’s notice
  4. Respondent’s notice to be treated as notice of appeal

The provisions relating to a notice of appeal shall also apply to the respondent’s notice with such modifications as necessary.

  1. Amendment to the notice of appeal and respondent’s notice
  2. Who may prepare the notice of appeal
  3. Extension of time
  4. Admission to bail and suspension of sentence pending appeal
  5. Suspension of order for restoration or payment of compensation, expenses, etc.

the judgment, decision or order shall be stayed until the expiration of 21 days from the date of the conviction or where a notice of appeal or leave to appeal is given within 14 days after the date of the conviction until the determination of the appeal.

(2) Where on appeal, the judgment, decision or order of the District Court is affirmed by the Supreme Court, the District Court judgment, decision or order shall take immediate effect.

(3) Where on appeal the judgment, decision or order of the District Court is reversed or varied, the Supreme Court shall make appropriate orders for:
  1. Notice of hearing

The Registrar shall:

(a) enter the appeal for hearing within 42 days of the notice of appeal being filed and record of the proceedings provided by the District Court; and

(b) serve on the parties a notice setting out the date and time of the hearing of the appeal.
  1. Costs

No costs shall be awarded by the Supreme Court under this Part of the Act for any criminal cause or matter.

  1. Discontinuance of appeal
  2. Determination of appeal by the Supreme Court in ordinary cases
(5) The Supreme Court on an appeal against acquittal shall allow the appeal if it deems that the verdict should be set aside on the ground that:

and in any other case shall dismiss the appeal.

(6) Where the appeal is allowed under subsection (5)(a) or (b), the Supreme Court shall, unless it is a proper case for the charge to be dismissed or the accused person to be discharged under any written law, enter a conviction in respect of the offence of which the accused person has been proved to be guilty and of which he or she could have been convicted on the trial of the charge.

(7) Where the appeal is allowed under subsection (5) (c), the Court shall order that a new trial be held before the District Court.

(8) Where the appeal is allowed under subsection (5) (d) or (e), it shall order, if the trial was not commenced, that the charge be tried and, if the trial was commenced, that the trial be continued and completed in the District Court or, if for any reason the Resident Magistrate or any of the magistrates who presided at the trial will not be able to preside at the continued trial, that a new trial be held before the District Court.

(9) Where under subsection (5) the Supreme Court has set aside a verdict of acquittal and entered a conviction, it shall proceed to pass sentence on the person so convicted in respect of the offence of which it has convicted him or her and such sentence shall, for the purposes of this Act, be deemed to have been passed by the District Court, save that no further appeal shall lie thereon to the Supreme Court.

  1. Powers of the Supreme Court in special cases

the Supreme Court may instead of allowing or dismissing the appeal, substitute for the conviction entered by the District Court a conviction for that other offence and pass such sentence in substitution for the sentence passed by the District Court.

  1. Powers of the Supreme Court to adduce fresh evidence
  2. No appeal on point of form or matter of variance unless raised in the District Court

No finding, sentence or order of the District Court shall be reversed or altered on appeal or revision under the provisions of this Act, except where the appellant was not represented at the hearing before the District Court by a legal representative on account of:


(a) any objection to any information, complaint, charge, summons or warrant for any alleged defect in the cause or matter or substance or form; or

(b) any variance between such information, complaint, charge, summons or warrant and the evidence adduced, -

unless it is found that such objection was raised before the District Court and that, notwithstanding that it was shown to the District Court that by such variance the appellant had been deceived or misled, the District Court refused to adjourn the hearing of the case to a future day.

  1. Supreme Court order on appeal to be certified to the District Court
  2. Right of appellant to be present

An appellant, who is in custody, shall be entitled to be present, if he or she desires it, at the hearing of his or her appeal under this Part.

  1. Revisionary power of the Supreme Court

The Supreme Court may call for and examine the record of any criminal cause or matter of the District Court for the purpose of satisfying itself as to the correctness, legality or propriety of any finding, sentence or order recorded or passed and as to the regularity of any proceedings of the District Court.

  1. Power of the Resident Magistrate to call for records of the District Court and to report to the Supreme Court
  2. Powers of the Supreme Court on revision
  3. Discretion of the Supreme Court as to hearing parties
  4. Number of Judges on revision
  5. Supreme Court order on revision to be certified to the District Court

PART 11 – APPEALS FROM THE DISTRICT COURT IN CIVIL CAUSES AND MATTERS

  1. Appeal to the Supreme Court in civil causes and matters
  2. Appeal to be by way of notice of appeal
  3. Time for appeal
  4. Security for costs
  5. Respondent’s notice
  6. Amendment to the notice of appeal and respondent’s notice
  7. Powers of the Supreme Court
  8. Supreme Court order to be certified to the District Court
  9. Fresh evidence

PART 12 – PROCEDURE AND RULES FOR APPEALS FROM DISTRICT COURT

  1. Appeals to be by way of rehearing
  2. Procedure where appeal not prosecuted
  3. Rules for appeals

The Chief Justice may make rules of the court regarding appeals in civil proceedings.

  1. Appeals from Arrest of Judgment

PART 13 – MODE OF CONDUCTING PROCEEDINGS OF THE SUPREME COURT

  1. Mode of conducting proceedings of the Supreme Court

The proceedings in the Supreme Court shall be conducted as follows:

(a) a trial or hearing of a substantive cause or matter shall be heard and disposed of in the Supreme Court; and

(b) interlocutory hearings and other such other matters provided under this Act or rules of the court may be heard and disposed of in chambers.
  1. Language of the Supreme Court
  2. Sittings of the Court

PART 14 – WITNESSES

  1. Summoning witnesses

A Judge or the Registrar may, either of his or her own motion or on the application of any party summon any person to attend the Supreme Court:

(a) to give evidence; or

(b) to produce any document in his or her possession or power.
  1. Compelling attendance of witness

If a person summoned under section 81:

(a) has reasonable notice of the time and place at which he or she is required to attend the Supreme Court;

(b) after the provision of transport to and from court; and

(c) fails to attend without any reasonable excuse, -

he or she shall, independently of any other liability, be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding $300.00 and may be proceeded against by warrant to compel his or her attendance.

  1. Prisoners may be brought to give evidence
  2. Refusal to give evidence
  3. How allowances to witnesses are to be defrayed in civil cases

In any cause or matter other than criminal proceedings, the allowances for the witnesses shall be paid by the party on whose behalf the person attended and shall be recoverable as ordinary costs of the suit if the Supreme Court so orders.

  1. Inspection of site, property or fixed evidence

Where inspection of a site or property may be material to the determination of an issue in any cause or matter, the Supreme Court may make:

(a) such order for inspection of the site or property by the Judge, the officers of the Court, the legal representatives, parties and witnesses; and

(b) such directions with regard to the inspection as it deems fit.
  1. Copies of and access to records of evidence
  2. Recording of evidence

PART 15 – ENFORCEMENT OF JUDGMENTS, DECISIONS AND ORDERS OF THE SUPREME COURT

  1. Powers of the Supreme Court to enforce judgments, decisions and orders

PART 16 – EXECUTION OF THE PROCESS OF THE COURTS

  1. Commissioner of Police to be responsible for execution of process of the Courts
  2. Police to obey orders and directions of Judges

All officers of the Nauru Police Force shall obey the orders and directions of the Supreme Court in the exercise of its criminal jurisdiction and shall have the powers and authority necessary to enable them to do so.

  1. Execution of process

It is lawful for a person who is charged by law with the duty of executing that lawful process of a Supreme Court and who is required to arrest or detain another person under that process, and for every person lawfully assisting a person so charged, to arrest or detain the other person according to the terms of the process.

  1. Execution of warrants

It is lawful for a person who is charged by law with the duty of executing a lawful warrant issued by the Supreme Court or other person having jurisdiction to issue it, and who is required to arrest or detain another person under the warrant, and for every person lawfully assisting a person so charged, to arrest or detain the other person according to the terms of the warrant.

  1. Execution of sentence

It is lawful for a person who is charged by law with the duty of executing or giving effect to the lawful sentence of the Supreme Court to execute or give effect to that sentence.

PART 17 – FEES AND FUNDS IN THE SUPREME COURT

  1. Fees

All fees prescribed by this Act, any other written law or the rules of the court and all fines, costs, forfeitures and penalties imposed by any Court in criminal proceedings may be demanded and received in the Supreme Court, by the Registrar or any other public officer nominated by him or her to do so.

  1. Courts Trust Fund and securities deposited in court
  2. Moneys in Fund and securities deposited to be held in trust by Registrar
  3. Republic to pay bank charges and be liable for loss of moneys and securities
  4. Rules relating to the Courts Trust Fund

The Chief Justice may from time to time make rules for giving effect to this Part of the Act.

PART 18 – REPRESENTATION OF PARTIES

  1. Representation of the Republic and public officers
  2. Representation of parties

A party to any cause or matter in the Supreme Court may appear in person or engage the services of a legal representative.

  1. Exercise of power of transfer
  2. Judgment of District Court may be removed into Supreme Court

PART 19 – PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE

  1. Practice and procedure

PART 20 – PROTECTION OF JUDGES AND OFFICERS OF THE SUPREME COURT

  1. Protection of Judges and officers of the Supreme Court

PART 21 – AFFIDAVITS

  1. Appointment of Commissioners
  2. Swearing of affidavits outside the Republic

PART 22 – CONTEMPT OF COURT

  1. Contempt of court

The Supreme Court shall have the power and jurisdiction to try and punish for contempt of court under section 14 of the Administration of Justice Act 2018.

PART 23 - MISCELLANEOUS

  1. Courts not to be held on certain days

The Supreme Court shall not sit on Christmas Day, Good Friday, Independence Day, Constitution Day, Angam Day or any Sunday.

  1. Vacations

The Chief Justice may declare the vacation of the Supreme Court not exceeding 30 consecutive days in any one year by a notice published in the Gazette.

  1. Common law and the law of equity

The common law and the law of equity of England continue to apply in the Republic to the extent of any inconsistency with any written laws.

PART 24 – RULES OF THE COURT

  1. Rules of the Court

PART 25 - SAVINGS AND TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS

  1. Imperial enactments ceasing to have effect in the Republic

Any Imperial enactment which has been partly or wholly replaced by any legislation in the Republic shall cease to apply.

  1. Judicial officers to continue in office
  2. Other officers of court to continue in office
  3. Proceedings, etc, continue under relevant Act

PART 26 – CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS AND REPEAL

  1. Consequential amendments and repeal
  2. General amendments as to references

Any reference to the Courts Act 1972 is a reference to:

(a) in the case of the District Court, the District Court Act 2018;

(b) in the case of the Supreme Court, the Supreme Court Act 2018; and

(c) in the case of High Court of Australia, the Nauru Court of Appeal Act 2018.
  1. Repeal

The Courts Act 1972 is repealed.



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