The trial of the group dubbed the 'Nauru 19' is expected to finally get underway this week, more than four years since the alleged offences occurred.
T-shirts worn by family and supporters of the 19 Nauruans who were prosecuted by government for staging a protest outside of parliament in 2015. Photo: Nauru 19/ Facebook
And the group, which now numbers 15, will be facing the court without legal representation.
The Nauru 19 were involved in an anti-government protest in June 2015 and have been put through a convoluted legal process ever since.
They face charges including rioting and disrupting the legislature.
Last year, an Australian appointed as judge, Justice Geof Muecke, granted them a permanent stay, saying the group's judicial rights had been abused by the then Nauru Government.
The government had refused them proper legal aid and placed them on a blacklist, ensuring they would struggle to find work.
Judge Muecke's contract was later cancelled and the permanent stay removed.
The 2015 protest outside the Nauru Parliament kicked off the long-running saga. Photo: supplied/ Shane Bazzi
The group last week sought unsuccessfully for the stay to be re-instated.
Now they will face former controversial Fiji chief justice Daniel Fatiaki without their Australian legal team, which is no longer able to provide representation pro bono.
Justice Fatiaki has requested the Nauru public defender represent all 15 of the accused and that a decision is due when the trial starts.
The new Nauru prison built by Australia Photo: supplied