British prosecutor and lawyer Nicholas Cooper has been made a Supreme Court judge.
The Registrar of Supreme Court announced the appointment of Cooper this afternoon.
“Privy Council approved the appointment of MR Nicholas Cooper of the United Kingdom as a judge of the Supreme Court of Tonga,” it said.
“The Lord Chief Justice has directed that on 1 March 2021 commencing 10am a ceremony is to be conducted in Court 1 to welcome Hon Justice Cooper and to farewell the Hon. Acting justice Langi.”
Acting Judge Langi will complete her current appointment on 26 February 2021 and return to service as a Senior Magistrate with enhanced jurisdiction in that court.
Prior to his appointment, Judge designate Cooper was a member of 15 New Bridge Street Chambers in London where he practised in criminal defence work and more recently as a Level 3 prosecutor.
He has specialised in a number of areas of criminal law including financial crime, large scale Class A drug supply by criminal gangs and corruption in public officials.