146:, intended to be an appointments and supervisory body for the court, was legally powerless. On this basis, Matamua ordered the Ministry of Justice and Courts Administration not to progress the appointments in any way. Despite this, on 17 December 2021 Fepulea'i purported to swear in Faimalomatumua and two other judges without warrants of appointment from the
157:
On 14 April 2022 the
Supreme Court ordered the Minister of Justice to resume administrative assistance to the court, but found that judges appointed under the Land and Titles Act 1981 continued to have jurisdiction only as expressly saved under the Lands and Titles Act 2020, and had no jurisdiction
50:
The Court consists of a
President, who must be qualified to be a Judge of the Supreme Court or as a Samoan Judge, and a number of Samoan Judges and Assessors, who must be qualified "by reason of character, ability, standing and reputation". Judges are appointed by the Head of State on the advice of
118:
were suspended from office following an investigation by the
Judicial Services Commission. The appointments of Vee and Ioane were subsequently revoked, while Hazelman was restored to office on the condition that his term not be extended when it expired at the end of 2019.
43:, which provided it with "such composition and with such jurisdiction in relation to Matai titles and customary land as may be provided by Act". Colonial law governing the Court was repealed in 1981, and replaced with the
174:
In March 2023 three LTC judges appointed under the provisions of the old Act were dismissed and invited to re-apply for their positions as they had been appointed under a provision which no longer existed in the new Act.
63:
it has exclusive jurisdiction over all matters relating to Samoan names and titles, the rights and obligations of title-holders, the interpretation of custom and customary usage, and over disputes relating to
129:
would be appointed Deputy
President of the Court. The position had not been advertised, and the appointment had been made without informing the Minister. Following the announcement, Minister of Justice
87:
Parties must make genuine efforts to resolve a dispute before appearing before the court, and the Court may order customary reconciliation or any other dispute resolution process.
126:
142:
subsequently issued a formal opinion that the lack of appointment provisions meant that no appointments could be made until further legislation had been passed, and that the
111:
69:
107:
115:
786:
51:
the
Judicial Services Commission, and serve until they reach the age of 65 years, but can be removed from office for inability or misbehaviour.
368:
122:
In August 2021 Fepulea'i and the entire Lands and Titles Court boycotted the welcome ceremony for the newly-appointed
Minister of Justice.
161:
On 29 October 2022 the Samoan
Cabinet told LTC President Fepulea'i Attila Ropati to vacate office by 1 November. On 30 October the
193:
669:
325:
102:, was convicted of intentionally causing bodily harm for smashing a bottle of the head of a security guard. The
414:
436:
103:
35:
as a Land
Commission. It was continued under the New Zealand colonial administration, and formally became a
99:
776:
771:
151:
139:
220:
171:
would be sworn in to replace him. Vaii was sworn in as
President of the court on 2 November 2022.
131:
73:
254:
90:
The court decides cases by customary Samoan law, and any Act expressed to apply to the Court.
766:
303:
40:
781:
135:
81:
138:
meant that there were no legal provisions for appointments to the court. Attorney-General
8:
168:
158:
under the new Act. It recommended that
Parliament consider how to remedy the problem.
738:
715:
692:
646:
623:
597:
574:
551:
528:
505:
482:
459:
391:
106:
subsequently refused to remove him from office. In September 2019 Deputy President
80:
for conformity with fundamental human rights, but this was removed in 2020 by the
39:
in 1934, though it was not renamed until 1937. It was continued by part IX of the
77:
36:
134:
suspended the appointment process on the grounds that a "drafting error" in the
195:
The land and titles court of Samoa, 1903 - 2008 : 'continuity amid change'
163:
65:
760:
72:
it is an appeals court for the decisions of village councils. Originally the
32:
21:
125:
In November 2021 the court announced that former Electoral Commissioner
713:
621:
526:
503:
480:
457:
437:"Three Lands and Titles Court Judges Removed following Investigation"
670:"Government terminates Lands & Titles Court President's Term"
624:"Supreme Court rules in favour of L.T.C. President's application"
392:"Vote over President of Land and Titles Court divides Parliament"
150:, claiming the appointments were "made by God". Prime Minister
76:
exercised a supervisory jurisdiction over the Court by way of
716:"Lesatele sworn-in as L.T.C. President; scrutinises new laws"
25:
506:"Justice Minister halts L.T.C. Deputy President appointment"
244:
Constitution of the Independent State of Samoa, clause 103.
415:"Three Lands & Titles Court Judges Suspended in Samoa"
389:
483:"Deputy president vacancy wasn't advertised, says C.E.O."
736:
690:
644:
595:
572:
549:
647:"L.T.C. President asked to vacate office by 1 November"
527:
Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong (14 December 2021).
481:
Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong (30 November 2021).
31:
The Court was originally established in 1903 under the
714:
Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong (2 November 2022).
598:"L.T.C. swearing-in ceremony illegal, says P.M. Fiame"
504:
Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong (6 December 2021).
458:
Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong (18 August 2021).
622:
Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong (14 April 2022).
369:"Samoa's Lands and Titles Court President convicted"
758:
693:"S.C. Justice to return as the L.T.C. President"
221:"Constitution of the Independent State of Samoa"
191:
98:In April 2019 the then-President of the Court,
575:""Appointments made by God": L.T.C. President"
566:
460:"L.T.C. President, Judges absent from welcome"
667:
596:Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi (17 December 2021).
573:Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi (17 December 2021).
550:Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi (15 December 2021).
275:Land and Titles Act 1981, sections 26 and 28.
691:Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi (30 October 2022).
645:Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi (29 October 2022).
617:
615:
349:Land and Titles Act 1981, sections 34A-34D.
192:Aiono-Le Tagaloa, Fanaafi Makerita (2009).
737:Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi (3 March 2023).
612:
412:
787:Courts and tribunals established in 1903
529:"A.G. advice against L.T.C. appointment"
154:denounced the appointments as illegal.
759:
390:Joyetter Feagaimaali'i (2 July 2019).
358:Land and Titles Act 1981, sections 37.
284:Land and Titles Act 1981, sections 29.
185:
144:Komisi o Fa'amasinoga o Fanua ma Suafa
331:. Parliament of Samoa. 5 January 2021
293:Land and Titles Act 1981, section 37.
439:. Samoa Global News. 30 October 2019
167:reported that Supreme Court justice
552:"L.T.C. Commission powerless: A.G."
20:is a specialist court dealing with
13:
213:
14:
798:
668:Lagi Keresoma (29 October 2022).
326:"Constitution Amendment Act 2020"
739:"Three L.T.C. judges told to go"
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33:German colonial administration
18:Land and Titles Court of Samoa
1:
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127:Faimalomatumua Mathew Lemisio
104:Legislative Assembly of Samoa
7:
10:
803:
255:"Land and Titles Act 1981"
201:(PhD). University of Otago
68:. Under section 11 of the
306:. PACLII. 16 October 1990
61:Land and Titles Act 1981
45:Land and Titles Act 1981
304:"Village Fono Act 1990"
132:Matamua Vasati Pulufana
100:Fepulea'i Attila Ropati
257:. PACLII. 4 March 1981
74:Supreme Court of Samoa
24:and customary land in
226:. Parliament of Samoa
140:Su'a Hellene Wallwork
112:Lavea Siaosi Hazelman
70:Village Fono Act 1990
41:Constitution of Samoa
371:. RNZ. 16 April 2019
152:Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa
136:Land and Titles Bill
82:Land and Titles Bill
417:. Samoa Global News
108:Sevealii Panapa Vee
169:Lesatele Rapi Vaai
116:Nanai Pologa Ioane
148:O le Ao o le Malo
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777:Aboriginal title
772:Culture of Samoa
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767:Law of Samoa
743:. Retrieved
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55:Jurisdiction
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22:Matai titles
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782:Land courts
604:17 December
581:17 December
558:17 December
535:17 December
512:17 December
489:17 December
94:Controversy
761:Categories
722:2 November
699:30 October
676:31 October
653:30 October
179:References
114:and Judge
59:Under the
672:. Talamua
466:18 August
443:15 August
421:15 August
398:15 August
375:15 August
310:15 August
261:15 August
230:15 August
205:15 August
630:14 April
335:7 August
745:4 March
329:(PDF)
224:(PDF)
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26:Samoa
747:2023
724:2022
701:2022
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16:The
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