A New Zealand lawyer involved in a Samoa court case that waited 22 years for a ruling, says he believes the failure of the judge involved, the former Chief Justice, was disgraceful.
Last week the Court of Appeal in Samoa declared a decision made last August by the former Chief Justice could not stand, that it was unsafe.
Samoa's Chief Justice Patu Tiava'asu'e Falefatu Sapolu Photo: RNZ/Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia
Patu Tiava'asu'e Falefatu Sapolu had reserved his decision in 1997 and after retiring last year was given additional time to clear a backlog of unresolved cases.
John Upton said he believed Patu's actions were disgraceful.
"The reason why I say that is that it continued over a period of many many years and it involved many, many cases.