FORMER public prosecutor, Elma Veenah Rizzu Hilly, is one of the three new magistrates who were sworn into the Magistracy in a brief ceremonial sitting at the High Court on Monday this week.
The 30-year-old Mrs Hilly is of mixed Malaita Province-Isabel Province parentage and studied law at the University of Papua New Guinea (PNG), in Port Moresby.
She told Solomon Star in an interview that she is grateful for the opportunity to serve in the Magistracy and contribute in delivering justice to the people of this nation through judicial services.
Magistrate Hilly was a Public Prosecutor at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), for eight full years before she took up the new appointment as a Principal Magistrate.
She said she commenced her employment with ODPP immediately on her return to Solomon Islands from PNG on 23 March 2015.
“I began as an appointed Senior Legal Officer from 2015 to July 2019.
“I was appointed as Principal Legal Officer in August 2019 and held that position till February 2023 when I was appointed on promotion to the position of Principal Magistrate,” Magistrate Hilly added.
During her time with the ODPP, she coordinated the Financial Crimes Unit for almost 5 years, from 2017 to February 2023.
Her area of expertise is Corruption Law.
When asked what motivated her to take up law, Magistrate Hilly said she set out a career plan that she wanted to adhere to in her professional career as a Lawyer.
“My journey in the legal profession began as a Public Prosecutor, a job that I always wanted to take on after my Late Father who was a former Police Prosecutor back then inspired me to pursue.
That’s where my motivation, interest and passion for Criminal Law emanated.
“My passion in criminal law grew from my experience in the prosecutions service. I wanted it to grow beyond prosecutions and into the judicial service.
“My appointment was in line with my career plan to pursue a career path in the judiciary and contribute in the delivery of justice through the lens of a judicial officer.
“The Magistracy was the ideal option to achieve the progress in my career plan,” she added.
Magistrate Hilly’s advice to students aspiring to join the legal profession is: Pursuing a law degree is not a walk in the park, more so, to complete a law degree on a high note is not a joke, straight up.
“It takes hard work and commitment to achieve your goals and be consistent with it.
“To the young law graduates and young lawyers (I was once in your position), if you have the passion to see justice prevail in our society and be part of it, be committed in your work to the court and your clients.
“Learn as much as you can from Senior Counsels and the courts.
“Do your legal research diligently and be resourceful in whatever office you serve in.
“Set your career plan now and work persistently towards achieving it.”
Magistrate Hilly’s humble beginning started off at the Saint Nicholas Anglican School, now Saint Nicholas College.
She spent 16 years at that school where she did her Kindergarten, Primary and Secondary education from 1993 to 2009.
Thereafter, she studied for a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) at the University of Papua New Guinea (PNG), in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea from 2010 to 2013.
On 11 April 2014, Mrs Hilly graduated with Bachelor of Laws, Second Class Division 2, LLB (Hons).
After her graduation, she did a one-year Practical Legal Training (PLT) at the Papua New Guinea Legal Training Institute (PNGLTI) in Port Moresby.
On 25 February 2015, Magistrate Hilly graduated with a Certificate of Training and was admitted to the National Court of Justice of Papua New Guinea on 6 March 2015.
She then went on to study for a Professional Diploma in Legislative Drafting in 2016 at the University of the South Pacific (USP), Suva, Fiji part DFL and F2F.
On 31 March 20217, she graduated in absentia.
She also spent 2019 and 2020 studying a Master of Laws in Criminal Law and Criminal Justice, [LLM (Criminal Law & Criminal Justice)] at the University of Sussex, Brighton, England, United Kingdom and graduated in absentia on 28 October 2020.
On 11 April 2014, Mrs Hilly graduated with Bachelor of Laws, Second Class Division 2, LLB (Hons).
After her graduation, she did a one-year Practical Legal Training (PLT) at the Papua New Guinea Legal Training Institute (PNGLTI) in Port Moresby.
On 25 February 2015, Magistrate Hilly graduated with a Certificate of Training and was admitted to the National Court of Justice of Papua New Guinea on 6 March 2015.
She then went on to study for a Professional Diploma in Legislative Drafting in 2016 at the University of the South Pacific (USP), Suva, Fiji part DFL and F2F.
On 31 March 20217, she graduated in absentia.
She also spent 2019 and 2020 studying a Master of Laws in Criminal Law and Criminal Justice, [LLM (Criminal Law & Criminal Justice)] at the University of Sussex, Brighton, England, United Kingdom and graduated in absentia on 28 October 2020.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
