The Head of State, His Highness Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi, is to administer the oath of Samoa’s newest Supreme Court Justice today.

Justice Tafaoimalo Leilani Tuala-Warren, who becomes the second Samoan female Supreme Court Judge, will be sworn in at the Head of State’s residence at Tuaefu, this morning. 

The appointment was confirmed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Justice and Courts Administration, Papali’i John Taimalelagi, yesterday.

Justice Tafaoimalo will assume her responsibilities in the Supreme Court immediately after.

Justice Tafaoimalo joined the Judiciary in August 2013 when she was sworn in as a District Court Judge. 

She was the second female to be appointed as a Judge for Samoa’s Judiciary after Justice Mata Tuatagaloa’s appointment in March 2011.

Justice Tafaoimalo was the main Judge for the Family Court and Family Violence Court. 

She holds a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Sydney, a Bachelor of Laws and a Masters in Law from the University of Waikato.

She was a lecturer in Waikato University for a few years before she returned to Samoa and joined her brother’s law firm of Tuala and Tuala.

Justice Tafaoimalo was first to be appointed to head the Samoa Law Reform Commission in 2008.

She is the daughter of the late Tuala Misi Tuala and Aruna Tuala.