Anthony Gates | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chief Justice of Fiji | |
| In office 18 December 2008 Acting: 3 January 2007 – 18 December 2008 – 7 April 2019 | |
| President | Josefa Iloilo Epeli Nailatikau George Konrote |
| Preceded by | Daniel Fatiaki |
| Succeeded by | Kamal Kumar |
| Personal details | |
| Born | United Kingdom |
| Alma mater | Cambridge University |
Anthony Harold Cumberland Thomas Gates CF was the chief justice of Fiji from 2008 to 2019.[1]
Gates is best known for his decision in Chandrika Prasad v. Att-Gen of Fiji [2000] 2 FLR 89; Prasad v. Republic of Fiji & Another [2001] 1 LRC 665; [2001] NZAR 21 in which he held that the Constitution of Fiji had not been abrogated by the military intervention in 2000, and that the Constitution continued to be the law of the land.[2] His decision was upheld by Fiji’s Court of Appeal, in February 2001. However, the decision which should have led to the restoration of the Parliament suspended by the coup of 2000 was not obeyed by the government at that time, the Government instead choosing to call for a vote in 2001.
Gates is also well known for his decisions that enforced civil rights for prison inmates (Noa Yasa & Anor v State HAM063A.05S [2005] paclii) and for the treason-related hearings of people alleged to have been involved in the political events in Fiji of 2000.
- ^ "Chief Justice Anthony Gates Retires". Retrieved 22 April 2020.
- ^ Political tensions rise in Fiji ahead of court ruling wsws.org