By: L.N. Reklai
July 20, 2016 (Koror) Judicial Nominating Commission received 50 applications for the 3 vacancies advertised in February 2016 for Associate Justices of Palau Supreme Court.
Of the 50 applicants, 41 were off-island applicants and 9 were on-island applicants. Of the 41 off-island applicants, 36 were from the US, 2 were from CNMI, 1 was from Guam, 1 was from Canada and 1 was from China.
[restrict]
Of all the 50 applicants, 13 were either current judges or former judges. And out of the 50 applicants, 43 were men and 7 were women.
One of the three vacancies was for an Associate Justice for the Trial Division. The Commission submitted its first list of recommendations to President Remengesau in June. On July 15th, President appointed Oldiais Ngiraikelau Esq. to this position.
In July, the Judicial Nominating Commission submitted its second list for the two positions open in the Appellate Division. President Remengesau is still to make his decision on this second list. [/restrict]