Palau Legal News: Associate Justice Ashby Pate's Resignation . . .
On January 4, 2016, Associate Justice R. Ashby Pate issued a formal letter to President Remengesau and Chief
Justice Ngiraklsong, indicating he would be resigning his judicial position effective April 1, 2016. He also met with both personally to thank them for the opportunity to serve the Republic over the past few years.
In his letter, Justice Pate wrote:
Dear Mr. President & Chief Justice Ngiraklsong:
I write today to inform your offices that I will be resigning my position as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court effective April 1, 2016.
For four of the past seven years, it has been a pleasure and a privilege to serve this great Republic, first as Senior Court Counsel to the Supreme Court, and then, for the past three years, as an Associate Justice on its Supreme Court. It is no secret that my family and I love Palau - its kind people, its extraordinary beauty, its rich history, and its exciting future - and it has been the highest honor of my professional life to serve on Palau’s Supreme Court. For personal and family reasons, however, the time has come to return to Birmingham, Alabama, to be closer to our American family and to continue my legal career there. I say that we must return to “our American family” because the fact is, we consider so many people here to be a vital part of our extended family as well - and it will be especially hard to say goodbye to our Palauan family in April. So, in keeping with Palauan tradition, I will not say goodbye at all, but only “Ma uriul” and of course “Kom kmal mesulang”.
The Supreme Court wishes Justice Pate well in all his future endeavors and thanks him for his service.
January 5, 2016
Justice Ngiraklsong, indicating he would be resigning his judicial position effective April 1, 2016. He also met with both personally to thank them for the opportunity to serve the Republic over the past few years.
In his letter, Justice Pate wrote:
Dear Mr. President & Chief Justice Ngiraklsong:
I write today to inform your offices that I will be resigning my position as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court effective April 1, 2016.
For four of the past seven years, it has been a pleasure and a privilege to serve this great Republic, first as Senior Court Counsel to the Supreme Court, and then, for the past three years, as an Associate Justice on its Supreme Court. It is no secret that my family and I love Palau - its kind people, its extraordinary beauty, its rich history, and its exciting future - and it has been the highest honor of my professional life to serve on Palau’s Supreme Court. For personal and family reasons, however, the time has come to return to Birmingham, Alabama, to be closer to our American family and to continue my legal career there. I say that we must return to “our American family” because the fact is, we consider so many people here to be a vital part of our extended family as well - and it will be especially hard to say goodbye to our Palauan family in April. So, in keeping with Palauan tradition, I will not say goodbye at all, but only “Ma uriul” and of course “Kom kmal mesulang”.
The Supreme Court wishes Justice Pate well in all his future endeavors and thanks him for his service.
January 5, 2016