The Law Council of Australia has expressed its concern at what it calls the ongoing efforts of the Kiribati Government to undermine judicial independence and the rule of law.
This follows its attempted deportation of High Court judge, Justice David Lambourne.
The president of Kiribati, Taneti Maamau, at the 2019 Pacific Islands Forum summit in Tuvalu. Photo: RNZ / Jamie Tahana
The Law Council said in a statement, that it was particularly concerning the government went ahead with this despite an interim order from Kiribati's Court of Appeal.
The government subsequently placed Justice Lambourne, who is the husband of the opposition leader Tessie Lambourne, in immigration detention.
The attempted deportation is the latest in a series of efforts to remove Justice Lambourne from the judiciary.
These efforts have included refusing to issue Justice Lambourne a visa or repatriation flight to Kiribati, withholding his salary, and pressuring him to sign an employment contract which purported to limit his tenure.
After Kiribati's Chief Justice William Hastings affirmed Justice Lambourne's security of tenure in accordance with his appointment, the government set up disciplinary tribunals to investigate alleged misconduct by both Justice Lambourne, and later, Chief Justice Hastings.
As a result, both of Kiribati's High Court judges have been suspended, and no further appointments can be made while the Chief Justice is suspended from performing the functions of his office.
The Law Council's concern has been heightened by the knowledge that warrants of appointment for the Court of Appeal have now expired.
The Law Council has urged the government to respect and observe the independence of the judiciary, and to ensure that all disciplinary, suspension or removal proceedings are fairly and independently determined in accordance with established standards of judicial conduct, and free from political influence.