On 3 November 2022, the CMJA, CLA and CLEA issued a Statement on the Appointment of the Attorney General of Kiribati as Acting Chief Justice ,Tetiro Semilota, as Acting Chief Justice which is a breach of the Basic Principles on the Independence of Judges and the Commonwealth Charter. Chief Justice William Hastings and Justice David Lambourne remain suspended in addition to the three Court of Appeal Judges who were themselves suspended in September 2022 following their judgment in August 2022 which called for the lifting of the suspensions of Chief Justice Hastings and Justice Lambourne.