President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has nominated former Supreme Court Judge Uz Abdul Ghanee Mohamed for the position of Chief Justice of the Maldives.

The nomination has been formally submitted to Parliament and was read during Monday morning’s sitting. It has since been referred to the Judiciary Committee for further consideration.

In the letter addressed to Parliament, the President explained that the nomination was based on the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC). He also confirmed his endorsement of Uz Ghanee's appointment and conveyed his position to the legislature in accordance with constitutional procedure.

The JSC, tasked with overseeing judicial appointments, had received applications from three individuals for the vacant Chief Justice post: Uz Abdul Ghanee Mohamed, Abdulla Mohamed, who currently serves as a judge at the Family Court, and Shujau Usman, the former Chief Judge of the High Court. After conducting interviews with all three candidates on Saturday, the Commission selected Uz Ghanee as its recommended nominee.

Under the constitution, the appointment of a Chief Justice requires the President to put forward a candidate based on the JSC’s recommendation, followed by approval from Parliament. 

The current vacancy was created following the retirement of Ahmed Muthasim Adnan in July. He became the first Chief Justice to retire under the present constitution and is widely regarded to have concluded his service with distinction.

Uz Ghana brings over two decades of experience in the judiciary. He began his career in 2000 at the Civil Court, later becoming Chief Judge of the High Court, and eventually a Justice of the Supreme Court. Alongside his judicial roles, he previously served as president of the Judicial Service Commission and is currently the president of the Tax Appeal Tribunal.