Judges of the Supreme and National Courts of Papua New Guinea are participating in a three-day Judicial Decision-Making and Judgment Writing Workshop from 6 to 8 October 2026 in Port Moresby, aimed at strengthening the quality, clarity and timeliness of judicial decisions.
The workshop’s aim is to support judges in strengthening the decisions and practices that shape effective judgments, including issue identification, case and hearing management, proportionate reasoning, oral and ex-tempore reasons, and the timely delivery of decisions.
The programme is jointly led by the Honourable Justice John Halley and the Honourable Justice Patrick O’Sullivan of the Federal Court of Australia.
Opening the workshop, Justice David Cannings of the Supreme and National Courts of Papua New Guinea reflected on the importance of judgment writing as a learned judicial skill that evolves through experience, training and continuous professional development.
Drawing on more than 22 years of judicial experience, Justice Cannings recounted what he faced when writing his first judgment shortly after his appointment to the bench and how judicial education transformed his approach to decision-making and judgment writing. He noted that effective judgment writing remains central to the administration of justice and the delivery of clear, timely and well-reasoned decisions.
“Judgment writing and judicial decision-making are so important to us and to everyone we serve through the courts. It is a learning process, and I continue to learn. One of the reasons I joined this workshop is because I want to keep improving, to write better judgments and deliver decisions more efficiently.”
Justice Cannings said the workshop reinforces the importance of clear reasoning, effective issue identification and structured decision-making in judicial practice.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Ms Tessa Plueckhahn, Acting Minister-Counsellor for Law and Justice at the Australian High Commission, highlighted the strength of the judicial partnership between Papua New Guinea and Australia and the importance of peer-to-peer professional engagement.
“What makes workshops such as this so valuable is the opportunity for professional exchange through respectful relationships. When judges come together, they bring shared experiences and common challenges, and each side has something to offer the other.”
Ms Plueckhahn said the collaboration between Papua New Guinea’s Judiciary, the PNG Centre for Judicial Excellence and the Federal Court of Australia demonstrates the strength of the broader Australia-Papua New Guinea Law and Justice Partnership (APLJP) and its commitment to judicial excellence.
“We are proud to support this partnership and to work alongside Papua New Guinea Centre for Judicial Excellence as close counterparts and partners in the law and justice sector. I look forward to seeing professional networks strengthened, institutional relationships deepened, and new opportunities for collaboration emerge from this workshop.”
Through practical exercises, collaborative discussion and expert guidance, the workshop is expected to strengthen judicial capability, promote best practices in decision-making and judgment writing, and enhance public confidence in the administration of justice in Papua New Guinea