Tafaoimalo Leilani Tuala-Warren

Tafaoimalo Leilani Sina Naireen Tuala-Warren (born 28 November 1972) is a former Samoan judge, who served as a Judge of the Supreme Court of Samoa from 2016 to 2023. She was the second woman Supreme Court judge in Samoa.[1]

Tafaoimalo Leilani Sina Naireen Tuala-Warren
Justice of the Supreme Court of Samoa
In office
29 April 2016 – 24 March 2023
Personal details
Born (1972-11-28) 28 November 1972
Apia, Samoa
Alma mater

Tuala-Warren was born in Apia to a dentist father and a flight attendant mother, and was educated at Leifiifi College in Malifa and Tintern Grammar in Melbourne, Australia. She won an AUSAID scholarship to the University of Sydney, graduating with a Bachelor of Economics in 1993. She then won a NZODA Scholarship to Waikato University, where she graduated with a Bachelor and Master of Laws in 1997, before completing a pre-admission course at the university's Institute of Professional Legal Studies in 1998.[2][3][4]

Tuala-Warren was a state solicitor in Samoa's Office of the Attorney-General from 1998 to 2000 before returning to Waikato University to teach from 2001 to 2005, variously as a tutor, teaching fellow and then law lecturer, teaching dispute resolution, corporate and commercial law and consumer protection. She returned to Samoa in 2005 to work as a partner with her brother's firm, Tuala & Tuala Lawyers, in their litigation practice. Tuala-Warren became the Executive Director of the Samoa Law Reform Commission in 2009, and was appointed as a Samoa District Court judge in August 2013. As District Court judge, she was the main judge for the Family Court and Family Violence Court.[2][1]

She was appointed to the Supreme Court of Samoa in April 2016 after being recommended by the Court Commission, headed by the Chief Justice of Samoa.[3][4] In January 2023 she announced she would be resigning from the court in March.[5] She retired from her role on 24 March.[6]

In August 2022 she was awarded a Distinguished Alumni Award by the University of Waikato.[7] In August 2023 she was appointed Professor of Law by the University of Waikato.[8]

She is married to New Zealand Māori Land Court judge Aidan Warren.[3][4][6]

References
  1. "New Supreme Court Justice". Samoa Observer. 29 April 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  2. "Judge Leilani Tuala-Warren - Honorary Lecturer". University of Waikato. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  3. "Second Samoan woman sworn in as Supreme Court Judge". Talamua Media. 29 April 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  4. "A new judge in Samoa". Waikato University. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  5. Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Ton (23 January 2023). "Senior Justice resigns from Supreme Court". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
  6. "Judiciary takes Last Stand with Justice Tafaoimalo Leilani Tuala-Warren". Talamua. 23 March 2023. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  7. Gutu Faasau (3 August 2022). "Supreme Court Justice to receive award". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  8. Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong (10 August 2023). "Justice Tuala-Warren appointed Professor of Law". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
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