My utmost respect to the late statesman and Chief Justice of the FSM Supreme Court. I have had the pleasure of meeting him and his wife at Joy. May the good lord welcome him into his house and comfort his wife and family. Rest in Peace Chief Justice Amaraich and thank you for your dedication and commitment to the FSM's cause.
As we mourn this great great loss, the search is probably now on the way for who will fill this most important position in our national Government. Any thoughts.
I was at the viewing ceremony of the late Honorable Amaraich late last night, I didn't get to listen to the touching speeches of this grate statesman. But yes I did touched his hands and say, "Where ever you are Chief Justice God is certainly there with you, Rest in Peace." I pray silently while my wife set tears, just two of us standing next to the casket of this Honorable Chief Justice Andon Amaraich. I have done business(s) with this grate man and matter of fact I am married to his relative from Deh, Pohnpei. I join you bingo in thanking The Chief Justice Amaraich for his dedication and commitment to the FSM's cause. Well it was a grate night too, an opportunity to shake hands with the, Ambassador Masao Nakayama and the First Secretary James Naich and Ambassador George as well. Yes the speech from the FSM Consul General, The Honorable Akillino H. Susaia, Mr. Peter Cheida says it was a very good speech. bingo I would like to put Mr. Dennis Yamase on top of the list of qualify candidates.
Noket! Nice guy smiles alot, flashy Chuukese represent (- overall ), who thinks his jokes are better than the other guy. There are better Chuukese out there kepwan, search one with both knowledge and wisdom...and who is this Yamase?
Camillo is somewhere lower on my list......i've seen him work as FSM AG, doesn't carry himself as one so i don't think so. Yamase would be a good CJ in my view also and probably the best candidate to date. Judge Benson i think has retired so that puts Yamase at the helm of the choices. but then again, it will be a political decision and God help President Mori in making the right choice and the Congress making the right decision for the nation.
Of all the good judges, I would think Yap Martin Yinug would make the best choice. He sure does not have any flaws as compare to the rest who seemed to be unwilling and hesitant to make sound judgement from their own heart and mind. I urge the president to nominate our associate justice mr. Martin Yinug of Yap to be our next FSM Chief Justice. kilisou, pwal pwapwa jok
I am sure the President and his team of advisors are currently searching for a replacement and will soon announce their candidate. Meanwhile, I also trust Congress also have some candidates on their minds as well and they could only hope the President submits one to their favor. I also think Associate Justice Dennis Yamase would do well as CJ. If this does happen, then the post for another Associate Justice would be vacant. I understand Pohnpei has no representative on the Judiciary bench and perhaps, this is a good time to appoint a Pohnpeian to the bench as another Associate Judge. The best Pohnpeian candidates for such a post is none other than Edwel Santos and Juda Johnny. Two former long serving justices of the Nation, both were Chief Justices of the State of Pohnpei for over 20 years. I understand honorable Mr. Juda was instrumental in taking part of the team of judiciaries that wrote the FSM Judiciary Act from the Trust Territory Government transition onto the now FSM Judiciary Government. He has also sat in many National Government court cases to assist with several complex cases at the National Government. Both he and honorable Santos were both Pohnpei State Legislators (Santos was once a speaker) in their younger days and both have immensely wrote all court precedences that today, judges at the State level would only have to refer to. Although honorable Santos was impeached from the Pohnpei State Attorney position in 2006, I don't know the severity of such and whether that could harm his selection by the President and if that will run well with Congress. Surely, if it does make any difference, then honorable Juda Johnny would be the better candidate from Pohnpei. He is known to be the longest serving individual in the court system, from the Trust Territory times to his recent retirement in 2009. No other individuals come close to these two honorable men who served long in the court system of our nation.
As far as the Chief Justice is concerned I am a proponent of experience, knowledge, diligence, and of course just/fairness. Those two candidates, Yinug and Yamase, possess all of the above so either one should be nominated. Once a vacant Associate Justice position is declared, the President should put a Pohnpeian up there. We have a Yapese, a Chuukese, an ex-pat, but we are lacking a Pohnpeian or Kosraean. I am not familiar with Kosraean lawyers, but I must say that there is no notable name parallel to the type we seek just yet. There are a few up and coming ones, but they are still in their prime. These are the worthy ones to consider:
1. Beauleen Carl Worshwick 2. Tino Donre 3. Joses Gallen 4. Judah Johnny
First female justices sounds pretty good if you ask me, especially at this stage where FSM and the US are pushing for women leadership in our governments. And so too an experienced lay judge. Both Mr. Donre and Mr. Gallen are exceptional litigators which is always positive traits.
V8,
I, too, would love to see CJ Johnny nominated as well. However, I would be really dissapointed if we were to have an impeached Justice at the national level which will be seen as a slap in the face to our State government. Policy wise the international community will also question this move. It will also give people like Sherry Sullivan fuel to critizise our so called "corrupt and criminal infested nation".
Chief Justice Aliksa B. Aliksa from the state of Kosrae is also qualifed as well. A true Micronesian and a very learned man in the law, he had become one of the most respected judge in our judicial system. May the President also considers this very honorable man to any of the top post in the FSM supreme court.
If you are referring to Edwel Santos then you're right. Although he is a good man, he has an impeachment record. I also respect your other candidates, but I think experience wise and wisdom, excluding Santos, retired and former Pohnpei State Chief Judah Johnny comes greater than any Pohnpeian candidate for an associate justice for the National Supreme Court. Pohnpei will be represented well and he will be beneficial to the FSM Government as well. But as you know, these are just our opinions. Politics isn't always about selecting good and able people.
Real legal knowledge is the key to our search. George is a great statesman, but he is not well versed in the legal arena. Yinug should get the CJ post.
If the FSM Government decides to open a slot for a Pohnpeian justice on the bench, then I would also agree that former judge Johnny would be a great candidate. I think Jose's list of candidates are okay but they are still young and their time will come when they too will excel in their careers. I hope the honorable President Mori considers a position for Pohnpei in the Judiciary Branch of the National Government.
For checks & balance point of viewing, I desire younger blood CJ, someone of caliber like Salomon Saimon, one of the well known & sharpest lawyers in the FSM.
like you, I have had the pleasure to appear before the CJ Johnny and his ability/knowledge is exceptionally broad even though he was not given the opportunity to go to law school. If I have a favorite among the 4 I put up, of couse I will without a doubt, put CJ Johnny as my first choice. His attention to detail and his willingness to expand his legal capacity spoke volume, hence not one can question his legal capability. By the way, I was referring to CJ Santos when I made the comment. As unfortunate as the record is, it ruins his credentials in my view.
A Chief justice is appointed by the president.....no matter how loud you are about your candidates we just wait for the president to nominate someone from FSM Supreme court now note that he appointed Rady Johnny from Chuuk state to be an FSM associate Justice as his nominee I believe he will appoint him as the chief justice or maybe he won't....
kepwan efich,,, lol...... the world would laugh at the FSM if the president does that if he is going to appoint Mr. Makoto he would appoint him as an associate Justice not just jump to Chief justice what would be the president's testimony before congress about this Lawyer who has never been a judge before??
I DO WANT TO PAY MY RESPECT TO OUR ONLY ONE, AND ONE HON. AMARAICH. KINLDY HELP ME TO DIRECT THE FS CAROLINE VOYAGER TO MY ISLAND, SINCE I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD THE AIR FARE TO POHNPEI.
MY RECOMMENDATION TO PRESIDENT MORI,FOR THE NEXT FSM CHIEF JUSTICE WILL BE DENNIS YAMASE OR AMBASSADOR YOSIWO GEORGE.
SECRETARY OF TC&I OR MR. PRESIDENT. MAY WE USE THE CAROLINE VOYAGER TO PAY OUR RESPECT TO OUR FOUNDING FATHER. NO CHARGE!!!!!
I know how desperate the people of the outer islands of Chuuk, especially the mortluckese to see the lost Chief Justice.....I sympathize with them I wish them luck.....
Waiooooooooooo, All purpose no comment for you......lol......kepwan efich OSen meh iah mwar lon omw kapas kana, ina ina mefiom chek usapw keep up !! Iwe upwe chek afata areh Camilo Noket or Maketo Robert.......Kilisou CHapur !!!
Okay people, no need to speak Pohnpeian! I stayed in Pohnpei long enough not to understand your comments. *lol kidding, no sweat it! I was only kidding... it should be a local guy, with no string attached to "KE-PACHTICE" *naffing...
Lets not make the same mistake and appoint someone without the proper credentials to fill this important post. One choice would be to appoint Maristella Jack, former AG. We'd sure become the next San Fran or we can tap the Palau market and get high quality judges with relevant experience and independent posture such as Quay Polloi, Xavier alumn to name a few. Anyone in the Marshalls?
The search should expand, but I do agree with the followings: Juda Johnny Edwel Santos Maristella Jack Maketo Roberts Dohsis Halbert Peter Christian Beauleen Carl, etc
Here are a few Kosraeans who can certainly contend for the FSM CJ position with their qualifications:
Yosiwo George - served as Kosrae CJ for 8 years Harry Seymour - has been practicing law in the FSM and Kosrae for over 20 years Canney Palsis - has been practicing law in the FSM and Kosrae for over 20 years Aliksa Aliksa - has been a judge, both associate justice and chief justice for Kosrae for over 15 years...
These individuals are as qualified as any of the people recommended above...
Qualification should be based on a set criteria. I wonder if any of the individuals mentioned in this thread possesses a jurist doctorate.....a prerequisite for such position.
I DEFINITELY AGREE WITH EVERYONE, BUT KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT JOB IN THE FSM GOVERNMENT, I JUST HOPE THAT THE ONLY ONE PERSON THAT IS GIVEN THIS OPPORTUNITY TO NOMINATE PEOPLE TO THIS VERY IMPORTANT ROLE USES THIS OPPORTUNITY WISELY. I MEAN TO PICK SOMEONE THAT IS PERFECT FOR THE PLACE, TO CARRY OUT THE RESPONSIBILITIES AND THE UNFINISHED BUSINESSES THAT THE LATE CJ AMARAICH LEFT.
Speaking of legal knowledge in the field and possession of a jurist doctorate as a prerequisite, yes, Honorable Martin Yinug has all of that plus the many years he had worked hand in hand with the late chief justice, Honorable Amaraich. It would be a big costly mistake for the president not to nominate him for the post, a humble, a very knowledgeable and legally one of the best in the field.
I could be wrong, and if so, I defer to your greater knowledge, but my recollection is that Associate Justice Yamase was appointed to the bench to replace Associate Justice Benson when he retired. Again, my recollection is that AJ Benson's retirement occurred AFTER Associate Justice Yinug took the bench (after the year 2000, if I am correct). That would make AJ Yinug longer serving than AJ Yamase.
morisan:
It is difficult to determine whether you are serious, or just being sarcastic. Jack Fritz and John Petewon are both convicted felons. It would be a real public relations coup to have a convicted felon sit as Chief Justice on the highest court in the FSM! And isn't Maketo Robert the same person who was and remains suspended from the practice of law before the FSM Supreme Court, and who drafted the Amnesty Bill intended to get Jack Fritz off on the charges against him, and to prevent the FSM Department of Justice from prosecuting ANY politician for any crime involving violations of the public trust? Finally, has Joe Suka EVER practiced law? Is he even a member of the Chuuk State bar, let alone the FSM bar?
Wouldn't it be a minimum qualification that the next Chief Justice of the FSM Supreme Court at least be admitted to practice before that court?
(Added after initial post)
staff:
I just found a history of the FSM Supreme Court written by AJ Yamase. It can be found in the FSM Supreme Court section of <www.fsmlaw.org> under "Rules." According to AJ Yamase, AJ Yinug was appointed to the Court in 1992, and became the FIRST FSM citizen to be appointed as an Associate Justice of the Court. The late Chief Justice Amaraich was also appointed to the Court in 1992, AFTER the appointment of AJ Yinug, and became Chief Justice in 1994. AJ Yamase was appointed to the Court in October, 2002, ten years after AJ Yinug took the bench.
Anyone with an interest in the history of the Court should locate this paper by AJ Yamase, which provides a history of the first 25 years of the FSM Supreme Court.
sure enough mr. president, seniority and most qualified credentials are the trade marks of AJ Yinug so go ahead and nominate him to the post. Is yamase a micronesian name? I'm not comfortable just by the pronunuciation, that's all.