Honourable Justice Leonard R. Maina
Judge of the High Court and Member of the Court of Appeal, Solomon Islands
The Honourable Justice Leonard R. Maina is a senior member of the judiciary in the Solomon Islands, currently serving as a Judge of the High Court and a member of the Court of Appeal. He hails from the Reef Islands in the Temotu Province and brings with him a wealth of experience spanning several decades in the Solomon Islands justice system.
Justice Maina began his professional career as a Police Sergeant with the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force before entering the legal field. He holds a Diploma in Law (1992) from the University of the South Pacific (USP), a Diploma in Magisterial Studies (1993) from the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG), a Bachelor of Laws (1999) from USP, and a Professional Diploma in Legal Practice (2000) also from USP. He was admitted to the Bar of the Solomon Islands in 2000.
His judicial career began in the Magistrates’ Court where he served as a First Class Magistrate from 1994 to 1997. He was appointed Principal Magistrate in 2001 and later became Chief Magistrate, a role he held from 2007 to 2013. During his tenure in the Magistracy, he served on various Customary Land Appeal Courts as both member and secretary, and chaired multiple Liquor Licensing Boards in Honiara and across provincial jurisdictions.
In 2013, Justice Maina was appointed to the High Court of the Solomon Islands, where he continues to serve with distinction. His work is widely respected across the Pacific, not only for his judicial leadership but also for his contributions to legal education and capacity-building in the region.
As part of the former Pacific Judicial Development Program (PJDP), he served as the National Coordinator for Solomon Islands and participated as a regional Judicial and Court Trainer. He also worked closely with Professor James Raymond of the United States as a co-facilitator in decision and judgment writing workshops held in Apia, Samoa (2012), Rarotonga, Cook Islands (2013), and the Marshall Islands. These trainings were designed for both law and non-law graduate judicial officers across the Pacific region.
Since 2003, Justice Maina has actively participated in numerous judicial conferences and training programs at both the regional and international levels, reflecting his enduring commitment to professional development and judicial excellence.
