New Chief Justice of Palau Supreme Court Appointed
by Island Times July 31, 2020
Oldiais Ngiraikelau is the new Chief Justice of the Palau Supreme Court.
He was appointed from the seven (7) nominee names submitted to President Tommy E. Remengesau by the Judicial Nominating Committee. Oldias Ngiraikelau is currently the Associate Justice of the Trial Division of Palau Supreme Court, having been appointed by Remengesau in 2016. The Chief Justice position opened up after President Remengesau accepted Chief Justice Ngirakelsong’s resignation last month.
In his letter appointing Oldiais Ngiraikelau as the new Chief Justice, President Remengesau said that he was not surprised to see Ngiraikelau’s name as the top choice of the Judicial Nominating Committee’s official recommendation. He added that since his appointment of Oldiais Ngiraikelau as Presiding Justice of the Trial Division in 2016, he had performed very well as a judge. “Your integrity and professionalism have further strengthened the reputation of our judiciary. It is with full confidence that I now appoint you Chief Justice” declared President Remengesau.
“Your predecessors, Chief Justice Nakamura and Chief Justice Ngirakelsong, set an incredibly high standard. They built public faith in our judicial system and as a result, you are inheriting a respected and highly professional Supreme Court,” expressed Remengesau. He further urged Ngiraikelau to “take the helm, and to continue on the sound course charted by your predecessors.”
Justice Ngiraikelau in response to President Remengesau’s appointment expressed that he was “humbled” by the appointment and that the “solemn task is so much bigger than myself.” Adding, Ngiraikelau wrote, “The high standards you speak of set by my predecessors, Chief Justice Mamoru Nakamura and Chief Justice Arthur Ngirakelsong, require much more than legal experience and and hard work. ..those standards require that my conduct as well as that of my colleagues, inside and outside of court, should enhance trust and confidence of the public in the impartiality, equality, and fairness of the judiciary.”
Ngiraikelau had 35 years of legal experience in courts of Hawaii, CNMI and Palau. In 2016, his name was submitted as one of the 7 nominees for associate justices of the Supreme Court. July 15, 2020 marked the fourth year of Ngiraikelau’s service as Associate Justice of the Trial Division of Palau Supreme Court.
With Ngiraikelau becoming Chief Justice, there will be a vacancy for an Associate Justice of the Trial Division and Judicial Nominating Committee will be searching for a candidate for this position. Justice Ngiraikelau is just waiting to be sworn in before assuming the role of Chief Justice of the Palau Supreme Court and head of the Judiciary Branch of Palau Government.
https://islandtimes.org/new-chief-justice-of-palau-supreme-court-appointed/ ____________________________________
Remengesau accepts Ngirakelsong’s retirement as CJ
by Leilani Reklai
June 26, 2020
President Tommy E. Remengesau, nearly a month after receiving Chief Justice Arthur Ngirakelsong’s letter informing him of his decision to retire from the position of Chief Justice of the Judiciary, finally agrees to accept his decision to retire.
“It is not easy to replace someone like CJ Ngirakelsong who has been leading the Judiciary for 28 years, out the 34 years of service,” expressed President Remengesau Jr. Remengesau added that had met with CJ Ngirakelsong hoping that he would at least stay until the end of the year but said that after that meeting, he was able to understand CJ Ngirakelsong’s position and respected his decision.
Chief Justice Ngirakelsong began in 1986 as an Associate Justice at the Palau Supreme Court. In 1992 he was appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court after the passing of Chief Justice Mamoru Nakamua. Out of the 34 years serving at the Palau Supreme Court, 28 of those years has been as the Chief Justice.
The Judicial Nominating Committee, a seven-member board, made up of 3 members from the Palau Bar Association, 3 members appointed by the President and Chief Justice as Chairperson, will nominate 7 people to submit to the President for his appointment.
https://islandtimes.org/remengesau-accepts-ngirakelsongs-retirement-as-cj/ _____________________________________
Silverius Tellei becomes the Director of Bureau of Labor and Immigration
by Telbakes Yano
August 7, 2020
SilveriusTellei, acting director for RinsangRechirei was sworn in as the new official director for the Bureau of Labor and Immigration at the Office of the Vice-President on August 4.
Present during the ceremony were his wife, some members of his family, and various colleagues from the different sectors of the Ministry of Justice.
After the retirement of Ringsang Rechirei in 2018, Tellei served as the acting director for over two years until he officially got appointed. Vice President and Minister of Justice Raymond Oilouch was there to perform the oath.
Director of Bureau if Marine Security Victor Remengesau, Director of Bureau of Public Safety Aloysius Alonz, Director of Anti-Human Trafficking Jennifer Anson, and Rep for the Narcotics Enforcement Agency Miwa Nabeyama welcomed SilveriusTellei as the new director and look forward to working with him.
Director Tellei also expressed that he is looking forward to working with the directors and his staff from the Bureau of Labor and Immigration.
https://islandtimes.org/silverius-tellei-becomes-the-director-of-bureau-of-labor-and-immigration/