Overview:
Palau’s Judiciary faces a combination of courtroom shortages, security concerns, vacant judicial positions and a caseload of more than 2,000 new cases a year. A rare Senate oversight hearing examined how the court system is addressing those challenges while seeking about $5.2 million for fiscal year 2026-27.
By Eoghan Olkeriil Ngirudelsang
KOROR, Palau — “The only thing left so that the Judiciary can improve in the serving and dispensing of justice is to have adequate courtrooms,” Administrative Director Kenneth Uehara told senators, underscoring one of the biggest challenges facing Palau’s court system.
A rare Senate oversight hearing on the Judiciary’s fiscal year 2026-27 budget highlighted concerns ranging from limited and aging courtroom facilities to security vulnerabilities, a substantial caseload, unfilled judicial positions and the need to modernize court services.
The hearing was conducted jointly by the Senate committees on Ways and Means and Financial Matters, and Judiciary and Governmental Affairs.
The Judiciary is rarely subjected to oversight hearings, and its annual budget has traditionally appeared as a single line item in the national government’s yearly budget. Uehara told senators, however, that the Judiciary is required to submit a performance report and detailed budget to the Ministry of Finance, as do the ministries.
For fiscal year 2026-27, the Judiciary is requesting about $5.2 million.
Judiciary Budget Officer Ryobch Luii said $4,011,803 of the requested amount would be reserved for salaries, including salaries for additional judges and support staff the Judiciary is seeking to hire. The remaining $1,200,797 would fund Judiciary operations.
Uehara said the Judiciary requested $5.2 million for the previous fiscal year but received about $5 million. For 2026-27, the Judiciary chose to request the same $5 million without seeking an increase. The Office of the President, however, submitted a $5.2 million request to the Olbiil Era Kelulau to fund the Judiciary, consistent with its request the previous year.
Uehara also told senators that three positions for land court judges remain vacant.
Limited courtroom space
A major concern raised during the hearing was the lack and condition of courtroom facilities.
The Judiciary’s historic building has structural problems and needs renovation, Uehara said. He said the Japanese Embassy had awarded a $2 million grant to restore the building, but later changed course and declined to fund the project.
The Judiciary then sought funding through Compact infrastructure funds, but Uehara said it waited two years for a decision from the Executive Branch.
“This year, for some reason, they said it could not be done,” he said.
The Judiciary now plans to use its own budget to begin renovations.
Uehara said the court had cut procurement of major items several months ago so it could redirect funds toward renovating Courtrooms 101 and 102. The two courtrooms could be used while the remainder of the historic building remains unusable.
The additional courtroom space is expected to help improve the scheduling of trials and make the court system more efficient.
Uehara said the Judiciary has already been working to renovate and reopen the two courtrooms, describing adequate courtroom space as the primary remaining need to improve the delivery and administration of justice.
“The only thing left so that the Judiciary can improve in the serving and dispensing of justice is to have adequate courtrooms,” he said.
The Koror Court currently has three courtrooms, Uehara said. One is assigned to the Court of Common Pleas, while two are shared by four trial-level judges.
Heavy caseload and modernization
The Judiciary has taken steps to address its workload, including adding one trial division judge, bringing the number of trial judges to four.
The court also procured an automated case-flow management system in October 2025. The system is intended to help judges, clerks, probation officers and other support staff manage cases.
Over the past four years, the Judiciary has purchased new computers under a three-year replacement cycle. This year, the court closed for one week while trainers from the Ninth Circuit provided training to judges and staff. Judges have also been sent off-island for additional training, Uehara said.
Despite those efforts, the Judiciary continues to handle about 2,000 new cases each year.
Uehara reported that 2,070 cases were filed in 2024 and 2,042 were filed in 2025.
There are currently 20 delayed cases, he said.
Responding to senators’ concerns about delays in issuing judgments and the time required to schedule trials and hearings, Uehara said a delayed case is one in which a judge has taken longer than the standard period, or the period required by law, to issue a judgment after a trial hearing has ended.
Security vulnerabilities
Court security was another concern raised during the hearing.
The Judiciary has closed all courthouse entrances except the entrance facing the Public Works Office. Uehara said Palau’s courts remain vulnerable compared with courts in many other countries, where visitors commonly pass through security screening and metal detectors.
He noted that many courthouses also operate with a single entrance and exit.
Uehara said there have been incidents involving clients who were angry about their sentences entering judges’ offices.
Future plans call for fencing or enclosing the entire courthouse and leaving only one entrance to strengthen security.
The hearing highlighted the range of challenges facing the Judiciary as it works to manage a heavy caseload: inadequate courtroom space, an aging and partially unusable facility, vacant judicial positions, security concerns and the need for continued investment in technology, equipment and staff training.
The Judiciary’s efforts to renovate courtrooms, expand its trial bench, improve case management and strengthen security are intended to help the court system deliver justice more efficiently and on a more timely basis.