THE HIGH Court has welcomed Justice Emma Ohukeni Maaramo Garo as a new Puisne Judge, bringing the total number of judges to 10.
Chief Justice Sir Albert Palmer, in his welcoming addressed on Friday, praised Justice Garo’s remarkable career and highlighted her achievements.
Justice Garo’s career, from the Public Solicitor’s Office to the pinnacle of the Magistracy as Chief Magistrate, has been defined by a relentless pursuit of justice and a pragmatic commitment to making the system work for all citizens,” Sir Albert said.
“We are not merely welcoming a new judge, we are integrating a jurist of profound experience, a leader of proven reform, and a dedicated servant of justice for the people of Solomon Islands,”
Justice Garo hails from Rauvalu Village, Kobuale, Tangarare in West Guadalcanal, and grew up in Buma, West Kwaio in Malaita.
She completed her law degree from the University of Papua New Guinea in May 2000 and obtained her Bar Exams Certificate from the Legal Training Institute of Papua New Guinea in November 2000.
Justice Garo was previously the Chief Magistrate, a title she held since her appointment in 2017 as the first female to hold the position.
Sir Albert said during her tenure, Justice Garo transformed the system, overseeing a reform programme that achieved “incredible and outstanding results,” including the reintroduction of circuit court sittings, the clearing of Customary Land Appeal Court backlogs stretching back over35 years, and the reintroduction of resident magistrates to all permanent court locations for the first time in12 years.
He noted that Justice Garo’s work speaks volumes, demonstrating a rare combination of strategic vision and operational effectiveness.
“As Chief Magistrate, she did not simply manage a system; she transformed it. She oversaw a reform programme that achieved, and I quote from her own record, “incredible and outstanding results.”
Sir Albert emphasized that Justice Garo arrives at the High Court not as a theoretician, but as a proven architect of efficiency and access to justice.
“Her life’s work has been dedicated to the timely disposal of cases.
“She understands, in her very core, that justice delayed is justice denied, and her entire career has been a battle against that very denial.”
In her new role, Sir Albert reminded Justice Garo of the importance of upholding integrity, impartiality, and transparency in the judiciary.
“This is a record that demonstrates a rare combination of strategic vision and operational effectiveness.
Furthermore, her international experience as Resident Magistrate of Nauru, where she reduced backlogs to a bare minimum while mentoring lay magistrates and clerks, proves that her skills are not only deep but also transferable and highly respected beyond our shores.”
“May your tenure be long, productive, and blessed,” Sir Albert concluded. “On behalf of all present, welcome to the High Court, Justice Garo.”
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
Solomon Star, Honiara
