Leadership

The Leadership stream recognises that strong, independent and connected judicial leadership is essential to upholding the rule of law and addressing the complex challenges facing courts. Through regional forums, judicial networks and targeted mentoring, APJP supports Chief Justices and emerging judicial leaders to collaborate, share experience and develop practical responses to common and emerging issues, including climate change, constitutional pressures and evolving legal demands. By strengthening collegiality, confidence and leadership pathways - particularly for women - the component aims to support resilience among judiciaries that leading reform and deliver fair, effective and accessible justice in their communities.

Chief Justices’ Leadership Forum

This well-established annual forum of the Chief Justices of 15 Pacific Island Nation courts provides a critical and unique opportunity to discuss challenges, effective practices and progress, as well as to agree on priority focus areas and plan for ongoing collaboration. It provides a valuable opportunity for regional judicial leadership, sharing of experiences and best practices across different countries and contexts and an opportunity for the Federal Court to contribute expertise and support.

CJLF, Fiji, February 2026

14 Chief Justices from across the Pacific, Australia and New Zealand gathered in Nadi, Fiji for the 2026 CJLF. Hosted in collaboration with the Fijian judiciary and the New Zealand-funded Pacific Justice Sector Program, the Forum featured a series of high-level discussions on strengthening judicial systems and addressing new developments affecting courts. Special sessions focused on the critical importance of separation of powers, the growing relevance of court communication strategies and social media, and judicial approaches to the prevalence of drug trafficking across the Pacific.