Attorney Tamara Hutzler has been designated as Interim Special Prosecutor by Attorney General Ernestine Rengiil. She stepped into the role eight months after the contract of former Special Prosecutor April Dawns Cripps expired. Hutzler will fulfill the responsibilities of Special Prosecutor on an interim basis until a permanent appointment is made.
Bringing a wealth of legal experience to the position, Hutzler previously served as Assistant Attorney General in Palau from 2011 to 2013. During her tenure, she provided legal counsel to key government agencies, including the Palau Environmental Quality Protection Board, the Financial Institutions Commission, and the Financial Intelligence Unit. Hutzler also boasts extensive legal expertise from six years as a Judge Advocate General (JAG) Officer in the United States Air Force. The Judge Advocate General’s Corps, commonly known as JAG or JAG Corps, serves as the military justice branch of various branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, including the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Navy.
Per Palauan law, if a Special Prosecutor is not appointed within six months, the Attorney General is responsible for making the appointment. President Surangel Whipps has previously addressed the challenges in filling this crucial position, citing a lack of applications due to the comparatively low compensation mandated by law.
Under Title 2 of the Palau National Code, Section 505, the salary for the Special Prosecutor is restricted to “within the grades and steps specified in 33 PNCA Section 702.” President Whipps has highlighted this salary constraint as a significant deterrent for potential applicants.
In an effort to remedy this issue, President Whipps has proposed an amendment to the existing law, suggesting the removal of the phrase “within the grades and steps specified in 33 PNCA Section 702.” This proposed change is currently included as a rider in the supplemental budget bill before the Olbiil era Kelulau.
The appointment of Tamara Hutzler as Interim Special Prosecutor aims to address pending cases, including those related to the alleged embezzlement of funds from COVID assistance programs administered through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).