Gates is also well known for his decisions that enforced civil rights for prison inmates (Noa Yasa & Anor v State HAM063A.05S [2005] paclii) and for the treason-related hearings of people alleged to have been involved in the political events in Fiji of 2000.

[4] He was dismissed as a Magistrate in 1985 when he refused to renew his oath of allegiance to coup leader Colonel Sitiveni Rabuka, the new self-appointed Head of State.

Takiveikata was charged with inciting a mutiny at the Queen Elizabeth Barracks intended to remove Commodore Bainimarama as the Commander of the Fiji military.

However, after Takiveikata was convicted by Justice Gates two business associates who were his neighbors and friends provided affidavits in the Court of appeal.

In the judgment the Court of Appeal failed to consider if the trial had been fairly conducted by Chief Justice Gates, a consideration which is ordinarily mandatory in cases where judicial bias is raised.

These new appointments upheld the claim of the deposed prime minister of Fiji Mr Laisenia Qarase that the 2006 Military takeover was illegal and had no validity.

In 2009 after the decision of the Court of Appeal, the 1997 Constitution was purportedly abrogated by the president of Fiji, Ratu Josefa Iloilo, and all judicial appointments were terminated.

The chief justice was re-appointed after a lapse of two months and has reformed the Judiciary - mainly with appointments from Sri Lanka, although some judges and magistrates were Fijian, or from New Zealand, Hong Kong, or Australia.

[7] Gates acted as temporary president of Fiji between late September and early October 2010 during the absence of Ratu Epeli Nailatikau.

The Fijian judiciary continues to function under the leadership of Gates with an emphasis on open justice, compulsory judicial training and case management.