Save confirmed
by the Senate as associate judge
by Fili Sagapolutele
Samoa News Correspondent
High Chief Save
Liuato Tuitele of Leone is the newest member of the High Court
after his nomination was confirmed yesterday by the Senate in
a 16-1 vote.
Save's close
to 20 relatives and friends, who were in the Senate gallery during
his confirmation hearing as well as the Senate session, gave
applause when Senate President Lolo M. Moliga announced that
Save's appointed was confirmed.
During the hearing,
which lasted for about an hour, senators gave Save a very positive
and upbeat reception commending him for his service to the U.S.
government through the U.S. Army, noting that Save's educational
and professional background is impeccable.
There were some
questions raised about having another associate judge from the
village of Leone appointed to the bench, as Associate Judge Suapaia
H. Pereira is from Leone.
Sen. Auaumamana
Foe'ese said the current post to be filled by Save was left vacant
following the death last year of Associate Judge Sagapolutele
Malaeola, from the Tualauta District.
Auaumamana, one
of the two Tualauta senators, said he believes someone from Tualauta
should be appointed to fill this vacancy.
Sen. Tuaolo M.
Fruean, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, explained
at the start of the confirmation hearing that he and the Fono's
legal counsel revisited the current statute, which does not clearly
state that an associate judge should be a matai title holder
or that each district should have representation on the bench.
Tuaolo, himself,
a retired associate judge, said that during Save's 30 years of
service in the military, he was the son of American Samoa representing
all of American Samoa, not just Leone.
Sen. Mailo Atonio,
a former associate judge, asked Save how he would handle cases
concerning ranking chiefly titles of Leone that appear before
the court. As examples, he pointed out the three currently vacant
titles of Fai'ivae, Olo and Leoso, all from Leone.
Save said he
would remove himself from such cases and he would do the same
if there are cases before the court dealing with family members,
to prevent any conflict of interest.
Tuaolo asked
Save whether he applied for the associate judge position. Save
replied that after the passing of judge Sagapolutele he made
inquiries with the court and subsequently submitted an application.
There was laughter
from the Senate gallery and giggles in the chambers, when two
senators asked Save if he had ever abused his wife to which Save
proudly said that in their 36-year years of marriage with wife
Sarah, he had never laid a hand on his wife and it was not his
nature. (His wife was among relatives in the Senate gallery).
Save pledged
that he will depend on God to guide him in his responsibilities
as a judge and noted that he will always perform his duties truthfully
and honestly.
A 1965 graduate
of Samoana High School, Save holds an Associates of Arts in Criminal
Justice from the University of Hawai'i-Hilo; a Bachelor of Science
in Criminal Justice Management from Chaminade University, Hawai'i;
and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from McKendree
College, Illinois.
Many of Save's
years in the workforce, including his 30-plus years in the U.S.
Army, was in law enforcement, starting in 1968 as a police officer
for the local Department of Public Safety, working as a traffic
investigator and later a detective with the Criminal Investigation
Division.
He was a CID
special agent during his time in the military.
Reach the
reporter at fili@samoanews.com.
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