Palikir, Pohnpei, August 29, 2023 (FSMIS) – The Pacific Judicial Council is currently convening in Pohnpei, for their mid-year conference, where H.E. President Simina delivered the welcoming remarks on the opening day. The Pacific Judicial Council is comprised of the Chief Judges of American Samoa, Guam, the FSM, Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei, Kosrae, the Northern Marianas Islands, Palau, and the Marshall Islands, and was established to “assist in the development and delivery of continuing judicial education and court professional training, and overall improvement of the administration of justice in the member courts.”
In President Simina’s remarks, he emphasized the critical role of the judiciary “as guardian of our constitutions” and “fundamental to the rule of law in our democratic societies.”
President Simina congratulated the council members on the important work they do for the judicial systems in the region and commended the Council “for ensuring that our judiciaries
continue to earn that public confidence and trust by living up to the high standards and expectations of our respective peoples through a responsible, accountable and transparent judicial system.”
President Simina also acknowledged the United States for providing the funding to support judicial education in the region and also noted that the FSM has sought funding support for the program in the FSM’s recent Compact negotiations with the United States, which he remains hopeful about.
