Taniela Tufui, Acting Chief Justice of Tonga [1]
Monday, October 9, 2006 - 17:57. Updated on Sunday, September 14, 2014 - 20:27.
It was a tough call for Taniela Tufui (74), who retired from the Civil Service five years ago, when he was appointed as the Acting Chief Justice of Tonga for four days this week while Chief Justice Anthony Ford was away in New Zealand.
Taniela took over as Acting Chief Justice on Thursday October 5 until October 10. Manako Vi the Registrar of the Supreme Court of Tonga said that while Taniela is Acting Chief Justice it is not required of him to hold any trials, considering the short number of days he was in the position, but he was to carry out other important roles of the Chief Justice such as administrative work, deciding on applications and handling any legal matters with legal counsel.
Taniela is a former Solicitor General of Tonga appointed in 1965, and a former Chief Secretary and Secretary to the Tongan Cabinet, a post he held for numerous years until his retirement from the Tonga Civil Service in 2001.
Manako Vi said that when Taniela was a Solicitor General he was also appointed as the Acting Chief Justice of Tonga for a short period of time.
Chief Justice Ford left Tonga last week on a few days special leave to attend an old school...s function in New Zealand, and the Supreme Court will resume normal sittings when he returns on Wednesday October 11.
Meanwhile, Manako Vi said that negotiations were still underway for a second Supreme Court judge for Tonga. Justice Ford was made Chief Justice on September 8 following the departure of Chief Justice Robin Webster, and the post of a second Supreme Court judge has been vacant since.