JPs are appointed by the Minister for Justice in consultation with the Chief Justice under Section 11 of the Magistrates Court Act 1944. Before a JP can act, he/she must be sworn in and must take an oath of Allegiance and Oath for due Execution of Justice Office. The JP appointment is valid for three years which can be renewed.

To be appointed a JP, the candidate must fulfill the following criteria as per Section 11 of the Magistrates Court Act 1944:

1. Must be of good character and ability;
2. Must be respected and have good standing in society;

• Must have good knowledge of local customs, cultures and traditions;

1. Must be able to maintain independence and impartiality;
2. Must be able to keep social distance from his or her immediate community

Additional Criteria:

1. A clean police report

• Be a Fiji citizen who resides in Fiji at the time of appointment, and is able to read and speak English fluently
• Be able to communicate and interact at all levels and with all types of individuals in his/her community

Download the Application Form and submit the completed form with the requirements to the address below. Requirements and application checklist is stated and attached in the application form:

Applications will go through the following process:

Step 1: Application Verification

The Ministry of Justice will:

1. Verify details on the application form and liaise with BDM to seek confirmation of details.
2. Verify with JP database to confirm any details or of any previous applications.

• Obtain a police clearance report from Fiji Police Clearance Department to check for any previous or current convictions.

Any anomalies in the application will require the applicant to verify and provide an explanation and/or reject the application if the anomalies suggest a deliberate attempt to provide false information to the Ministry of Justice.

Step 2: Interview

Applicants are asked to answer questions and do some practical tests. Based on the interviews further recommendation is made and approval for appointment is given by the Minister for Justice in agreement with the Chief Justice.

Step 3: Induction Training and Swearing In Ceremony

In correspondence to the approval for appointment, the Chief Justice allocates a date for the swearing in ceremony to take place. Successful applicants are required to attend an Induction Training. The training is usually conducted a day before the swearing in ceremony date.