Vui Clarence Nelson

Vui Clarence Joseph Nelson (born 22 December 1955)[1] is a Samoan judge. He sits on the Supreme Court of Samoa, and was the first Pacific Islands judge appointed to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child.

Nelson was born in Apia, Samoa,[1] and educated at St. Joseph's College in Samoa and Timaru Boys' High School in New Zealand.[2] He studied law at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand, graduating in 1977.[1][3] He returned to Samoa in 1979, where he worked for the Office of the Attorney General and then in private practice.[2] In 2000 he was appointed to the District Court of Samoa, becoming Senior District Court Judge in 2001.[2] In 2006 he was appointed to the Supreme Court of Samoa.[2] As a supreme court judge he decided the case of Police v Vailopa [2009], which set requirements for police interviews of child suspects.[4] He also advocated for the creation of a sex offender's registry in Samoa, resulting eventually in the passage of the Sex Offenders Registration Act in 2018.[5]

In 2014 Vui became the first Pacific Islands judge appointed to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child.[6] He was appointed for a second four-year term in 2018.[7] In this role he criticised the Samoan government's attempted re-introduction of corporal punishment in schools.[8]

In 2019 following the retirement of Patu Tiava'asu'e Falefatu Sapolu he was appointed acting Chief Justice of Samoa.[9] He served in that role for almost a year before the appointment of Satiu Simativa Perese as Chief Justice in March 2020.[2] On 30 November 2021 he was appointed as Senior Judge of the Supreme Court.[10]

In April 2023 he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws by the University of Canterbury.[11]

References
  1. "Clarence Nelson" (PDF). Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  2. "Justice Nelson Should Not Have Been Overlooked as Chief Justice, says Member of Parliament". Samoa Global News. 7 April 2020. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  3. "Notable Alumni - Justice Vui Clarence Nelson". University of Canterbury. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  4. Police v Vailopa, 2009 WSSC 69 (Supreme Court of Samoa 2 July 2009).
  5. Joyetter Feagaimaali’i-Luamanu (30 December 2018). "Justice Vui Clarence Nelson - Championing a worthy cause". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  6. "Samoa Judge Appointed TO UN Committee On Rights Of Child". Pacific Islands Report. 7 October 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  7. Joyetter Feagaimaali’i-Luamanu (4 July 2018). "Justice Vui's global calling". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  8. Joyetter Feagaimaali’i-Luamanu (5 July 2018). "Judge says policy a step backwards". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  9. "Justice Vui Clarence Nelson is Acting CJ". Talanei. 26 April 2019. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  10. Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong (1 December 2021). "Justice Nelson elevated to senior judge". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  11. "Justice Vui Clarence Nelson honoured for promoting justice in the Pacific". Talamua. 4 April 2023. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
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