Judiciary takes Last Stand with Justice Tafaoimalo Leilani Tuala-Warren

By Lagi Keresoma

APIA, SAMOA – 23 MARCH 2023: Members of the Judiciary took time off their busy schedule to pose for photographs with their colleague, Justice Tafaoimalo Leilani Tuala-Warren who ends her official duties with the Supreme Court of Samoa tomorrow (Friday 24 March).

Led by Chief Justice Satiu Simativa Perese, they took time for a photo shoot with Tafaoimalo at various areas of the Court house with the final picture in-front of the main entrance to the Courts.

The images will become significant in time, as her face and name is among the major court decisions made during the 4 months long constitutional crisis that followed the April 2021 general elections.

Tafaoimalo resigned early this year to move to join her husband and children. Her husband is a Judge of the New Zealand Maori Court.

Last year, Justice Tafaoimalo received a Distinguished Alumini Award from the University of Waikato New Zealand for her service to the community.

She was the first Executive Director of the newly established Samoa Law Reform Office in 2009 where she served for four year before she was appointed as a District Court Judge.

Her work with the District Court in notable especially with the establishment of the Family Court to deal with cases of domestic violence and the establishment of the Youth Court.

In 2016, Tafaoimalo was appointed Samoa’s second female judge in the Supreme Court where she served for 7 years.

She officially ends her duties as a Judge of the Supreme Court 24 March 2023.