Chief Justice Sir Mari Kapi GCL KCMG CBE (12 December 1950 – 25 March 2009) was a Papua New Guinean judge who served as the fourth[1] Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea from 16 August 2003 until his retirement in 2008 for health reasons.
In evident recognition of Mr Justice Kapi's considerable rigour in the application of the principle of stare decisis he was appointed a member of the Fiji Court of Appeal and, in addition to his judicial responsibilities in Papua New Guinea, he also rendered appellate judgments in that common law jurisdiction.
[2] His successor as Chief Justice, Sir Salamo Injia, PNG Attorney General Allan Marat and PNG Law Society president Kerenga Kua jointly described Kapi as a "perfect role model in the legal profession" and a "top national jurist.
"[1][2] Mari credited the support from colleagues and friends in Papua New Guinea, Australia, the Solomon Islands, New Zealand and Fiji, as well as the National Judicial Staff Services, for his successful career at the November 2008 retirement ceremony.
He has received the President's award for Ministry Statesmanship, recognizing his impact and influence in advancing the cause of doing justice with mercy.