High Court of the Marshall Islands

High Court of the Marshall Islands
Seal of the court
JurisdictionMarshall Islands
Composition methodRecommendation of Judicial Service Commission, Appointment by Cabinet, and Approval of Nitijela
Authorised byConstitution of the Marshall Islands
Appeals toSupreme Court of the Marshall Islands
Judge term lengthCitizens During Good Behavior Up to Age 72; Noncitizens During Good Behavior for Term of 1 Year or More
Number of positions1 Chief Justice and Optional (Currently 2) Associate Justices
Websitehttp://rmicourts.org/
Chief Justice
CurrentlyCarl Ingram
Since2013
Lead position ends2023

The High Court is the second highest court of law in the Marshall Islands judiciary. The court is established by Article VI, section 3 of the republic's constitution.[1] It has appellate jurisdiction over cases originating in the lower courts as well as original jurisdiction over certain classes of cases, including some criminal and civil matters, wills, and divorces.[2] The court consists of a Chief Justice and an optional number of Associate Justices.[3] The current Chief Justice, Carl Ingram, a U.S. citizen who originally came to the Marshall Islands with the Peace Corps in 1979, was first appointed as an associate justice of the High Court in March 2003, then as chief justice in October 2003 and for a second 10-year term as chief justice effective October 2013.[4][needs update]

Chief Justices

Name Took office Left office Notes
John Lanham October 1981 March 1985 [5][6]
Nelson Doi March 1985 April 1986 [5]
Adhikarana D. Tennekone April 1986 1989 [7][8]
Philip T. Bird 1989 1991 [9]
Neil Rutledge June 1992 1993-? [5]
Witten Philippo ?-1994 1995-? acting[10]
Daniel Cadra April 1996 June 1999 [11]
Charles Henry 2001 2002 [12]
Carl Ingram October 2003 Incumbent [11]

References

  1. ^ "Constitution of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (Art. VI, sec. 3)" (PDF). Embassy of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-11-22. Retrieved 2016-07-08.
  2. ^ Margolick, David (April 3, 1992). "At the Bar; The Marshall Islands Has Blue Lagoons, Pacific Breezes and an Opening on a Court". The New York Times.
  3. ^ "The RMI Judiciary". RMI Judiciary. Archived from the original on 13 June 2016. Retrieved 6 July 2016.
  4. ^ "Senior Judges and Staff". RMI Judiciary. Retrieved 2016-07-08.
  5. ^ a b c Marshall Islands Supreme Court (July 1982). "Marshall Islands Law Reports". Supreme Court, Republic of the Marshall Islands.
  6. ^ "A look back at the 1950s". The Marshall Islands Journal. 11 February 2022.
  7. ^ Report to the United Nations on the Administration of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, transmitted by the United States of America (Report). United States Department of State. 1985.
  8. ^ Van Dyke, Jon M. (2009). "The Pacific Judicial Conference: Strengthening the Independent Judiciary and the Rule of Law in the Pacific" (PDF). Western Legal History. 22 (1 & 2). Pasadena, CA: Ninth Judicial Circuit Historical Society: 154. ISSN 0896-2189.
  9. ^ "Chinese Embassy opens". The Marshall Islands Journal. 3 March 2016.
  10. ^ "Judge Philippo" (PDF). Republic of the Marshall Islands Law Reports: Opinions and Selected Orders July 1993 Through July 2004. 2. December 4, 2004.
  11. ^ a b "Senior Judges and Staff". Republic of the Marshall Islands Judiciary.
  12. ^ "Suspended Marshall Islands chief justice in court on Monday". RNZ. 25 April 2003.


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