Four individuals have been successfully selected to join the Land and Titles Court (LTC) bench and will be sworn in next month. 

They are Telea Kamu Potogi, Leugamata Faletolu Alofipo, Fonoti Michelene Tauaa and Pesetatamalelagi Arasi Tiotio. 

Telea and Leugamata are currently employed with the Ministry of Justice Court and Administration while Fonoti and Pesetatamalelagi are outside applicants. 

The Land and Titles Court Commission (Komisi) approved the recommendation from an independent selection committee to appoint the four new judges on the bench. 

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the Ministry of Justice Courts and Administration, Papalii John Taimalelagi confirmed the new appointment following the advertisement for the vacancy in August last year.  

The new judges will be sworn in on 17 April once the Head of State has signed off on their appointment. 

The first-ever Performance Management System (PMS) Framework was also launched on Thursday for the judges in that court. 

The framework was established to provide an impartial transparent and structured approach to performance reviews and merit-based promotion. 

PMS ensures that judges perform their judicial functions to a high standard and guides the Komisi giving promotion to judges based on merit. 

Papalii said the first framework helps to promote in all judges of the LTC a strong performance-based work ethic and commitment to judicial excellence to better serve the community.