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Gov's office releases more info on proposed change for how Justices to High Court are appointed

Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga
reporters@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — In a news release from the Governor’s Office regarding the outcome of Monday’s vote approving the proposed amendment to the American Samoa Revised Constitution regarding the nomination of a Chief Justice, which will be presented to the Constitutional Convention delegates for discussion, the Constitutional Review Committee offered additional information on the intention of the proposal.

“When we think about what actions can American Samoa take to show that it is concerned about self-determination and self-government, then this issue is one of those actions. We are a democratic government that is a Government by the People,” the statement said.

As reported yesterday by Samoa News, this proposal calls for the “Governor” to appoint the Chief Justice and Associate Justices of the High Court “subject to confirmation by the Legislature,” instead of the U.S. Secretary of Interior — who has this authority under the local Constitution.

According to the news release, sending this issue to the Constitutional Convention is not a new subject, this will be the third time it has been proposed.

The release notes that Review Committee members took a careful look into the selection process, the financial support, and also sought the position of the Office of Insular Affairs field representative, Lydia Faleafine Nomura, who, on behalf of the Deputy Secretary of Insular Affairs, says her office has met about this and are in full support to amend this provision of the Constitution.

Also approved Monday by the Committee to be sent to the Constitutional Convention in June is the reapportionment of the House of Representatives amendment. It deals with Tualauta and Ituau districts, and leaves the number of faipule to be added to be decided during the Convention. (See Samoa News edition yesterday for details.)