PNG Court House Basic Rules

Su0reme Courts PNG| District Courts PNG| PNG Judiciary Services
Photo Credit: https://www.rnz.co.nz/

Here is a basic court user guide from the PNG Center for Judicial Excellence as part of it’s consumer education on judiciary services in Papua New Guinea.

Types of Courts in Papua New Guinea

  1. Village Court

  2. District Court

  • Summary Offenses Court
  • Juvenile Court
  • Family Court
  • Traffic Court
  • Grade Five Court
  • Committal Court
  1. National Court

  • Crimes Track
  • Civil Track
  • Human Rights Track
  • Commercial Track

4. Supreme Court

  • Appeals
  • Reviews
  • References

5: Other dispute resolution divisions

  • Court-Annexed Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
  • Leadership Tribunals

Court House Rules

1.Attire and grooming

  • Dress and look presentable when attending a session in a court room
  • Remove caps, hats, or sunglasses when entering a court room

Do NOT wear the following

  • Flip flops (slippers)
  • Short pants
  • T Shirts/jerseys

2: Court Room Manners and Attitude

  • Always bow before a Judge/Magistrate when entering a court and before leaving the room
  • Always stand when a Judge/Magistrate enters the court room. Bow together with the judge/magistrate, then take your seat after the judge/magistrate is seated.
  • Do no shout, sing, or talk louder in court room when a case is proceeding
  • Switch off your cell phone or activate to flight mode before entering a court room.
  • Remove caps, hats or shades when entering a court room
  • Do not eat food, chew betelnut/gums or smoke in a court room.

3: Addressing Judges and Magistrates

  • Address a Judge as “Your Honor”
  • Address a Magistrate as “ Your worship”

Note: A Judge wears a red gown when presiding over criminal matters, and wears a black gown on civil matters.

Heads Courts in PNG

Supreme and National Courts

  • Chief Justice, Sir Gibuma Gibbs Salika , GCL, KBE, CSM, OBE
  • Deputy Chief Justice, Justice Ambeng Kandakasi, CBL

District Courts

  • Chief Magistrate, Mark Pupaka
  • Deputy Chief Magistrate, Rosemary Koimo

Contact Information

Postal Address

National Judicial Staff Services

P.O.BOX  7018, Boroko, Port Moresby NCD 111, PNG

Reception: (675) 324 5700

National Court

Interpreting Service: Phone:  (675) 324 5798  Fax (675) 325 7732

Court Reporting Service:   Phone: (675) 324 5853 Fax: (675) 325 7732

Criminal Cases :  Phone| (675) 324 5795 | Fax: (675) 323 1092

Civil Cases-ADR: Phone| (675) 324 5795 / 7566 Fax | (675) 325 3874

Civil Cases-Equity Division:  Phone| (675) 324 5845

Supreme Court

Phone | (675) 324 5805 Fax | (675) 325 5998

  • Civil Cases-Equity-Commercial Track: Phone| (675) 324 5765
  • Civil Cases-Human Rights Track: Phone | (675) 324 5765
  • Civil Cases-Equity-Election Petition Track: Phone| (675) 324 5712
  • Civil Cases-Leadership Tribunal : Phone| (675) 324 5724/5719  Fax| (675) 323 5679
  • Civil Cases-Civil Track III: Phone| (675) 324 5714/5719  Fax| 323 5679

Integrated Electronic Case Management Customer Service: Phone |  (675) 324  5804

Court Library: Phone | (675) 324 5722/5799

Source: Consumer Pamphlet from the   PNG Centre for Judicial Excellence

              Website:  www.pngjudiciary.gov.pg