Attorney General of Tonga explained

Post:Attorney General of Tonga
Incumbent:Linda Folaumoetu'i
Incumbentsince:2019

The Attorney General of Tonga is Tonga's chief law officer, responsible for supervising Tongan law and advising the government on legal matters. Originally a Cabinet position held jointly with the portfolio of Minister of Justice, the office was made independent in 2009. The current Attorney General is Linda Folaumoetu'i.

History and role

The position of attorney general was established in the Kingdom of Tonga in 1988. From 1988 to 2009, the Attorney General jointly held the office of Minister of Justice.[1]

The Attorney-General is "First Law Officer for the Government of the Kingdom of Tonga".[2] its responsibilities include providing legal advice, drafting legislation, and conducting prosecutions and representing the crown in civil matters, as well as "supporting constitutional integrity and governance" and "facilitating [the] Government’s lawful and responsible legal dealings"[2]

Following constitutional reforms in January 2012, the Attorney General is reportedly

"the principal legal advisor to Cabinet and Government, and with the Solicitor General and other law officers will be responsible for prosecutions and legal cases for and against the government, the drafting of legislation for the Government and parliament, and generally for ensuring that the Constitution and laws of Tonga are understood and upheld by Government and individuals".[3]

Lists of attorneys general

John Cauchi, appointed in May 2009, was the first Attorney General not to hold the portfolio of Justice Minister. He was also the first non-Tongan to hold the office, being an Australian citizen.[18] He resigned the position on 30 April 2010.[19] It is not currently clear how many people held the position between Cauchi's resignation and Sweetman's appointment. In early 2011, the CIA Factbook stated the Attorney General was ʻAsipeli ʻAminiasi Kefu.[20] However this may have been an error, as other sources described Kefu as the Solicitor General. Minister for Justice Samiu Vaipulu was the Attorney General just prior to Sweetman's appointment; the latter thus disassociated the two positions, which had once again been combined in a single person.[21]

As of August 2011, the Kingdom has had at least seven Attorneys General. Matangi Tonga has noted that three of the country's Attorneys General (namely Tupou and both Taumoepeaus) "have been told to resign".

List of ministers of justice (post–2009)

Notes and References

  1. http://www.matangitonga.to/article/tonganews/government/20090601_attorneygen_alisi_taumoepeau.shtml "Minister of Justice and Attorney General resigns"
  2. Web site: Functions and Duties . Attorney-General's Office . 3 August 2021.
  3. https://archive.today/20130126162100/http://www.islandsbusiness.com/news/index_dynamic/containerNameToReplace=MiddleMiddle/focusModuleID=130/focusContentID=27006/tableName=mediaRelease/overideSkinName=newsArticle-full.tpl "Neil Adsett appointed as Tonga’s new Attorney General"
  4. Web site: Chiefs of State and Cabinet members of foreign governments / National Foreign Assessment Center. 1990.. HathiTrust. en. 2018-07-01.
  5. Web site: Crown Law. www.mic.gov.to. en-gb. 2018-07-01.
  6. Book: Turner, B.. The Statesman's Yearbook 2004: The Politics, Cultures and Economies of the World. 2016-12-27. Springer. 9780230271326. en.
  7. Book: Turner, B.. The Statesman's Yearbook 2005: The Politics, Cultures and Economies of the World. 2017-02-07. Springer. 9780230271333. en.
  8. Web site: Tongan King appoints third justice minister in two months . RNZ . 25 September 2004 . 7 August 2022.
  9. News: Siaosi Taimani 'Aho appointed Attorney General, Minister of Justice. 2004-09-24. Matangitonga. 2018-07-01. en.
  10. Web site: TONGA'S JUSTICE MINISTER, ATTORNEY GENERAL RESIGNS Pacific Islands Report. www.pireport.org. en. 2018-07-01. 2 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180702014037/http://www.pireport.org/articles/2009/06/02/tonga%C3%A3%C2%82%C3%A2%C2%92s-justice-minister-attorney-general-resigns-0. dead.
  11. Web site: PROFILE: Hon. Samiu Kuita Vaipulu. Administrator. www.mic.gov.to. en-gb. 2018-07-01.
  12. News: Tonga MPs want action on illegality of deputy PM holding attorney general post. 2011-08-04. Radio New Zealand. 2018-07-01. en-nz.
  13. Web site: Mr. Neil Adsett appointed as Tonga's new Attorney General Planet Tonga. Planet Tonga. en-US. 2018-07-01.
  14. News: Attorney General Neil Adsett, appointed Senior Counsel. 2012-03-18. Matangitonga. 2018-07-01. en.
  15. Web site: Tonga's Attorney General Steps Down Pacific Islands Report. www.pireport.org. en. 2018-07-01.
  16. Web site: Tonga's Attorney General to step down . RNZ . 23 June 2014 . 21 August 2022.
  17. Web site: Tonga gets first female Attorney General. 2019-04-03. Radio New Zealand. en-nz. 2019-04-12.
  18. http://www.matangitonga.to/article/tonganews/law/2009020609_cauchi_attorneygen_tong.shtml "Tonga's new Attorney General"
  19. Web site: Tonga's Attorney General quits accusing Govt of protecting cronies. 30 April 2010. Radio Australia. 2 June 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100502083130/http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/asiapac/stories/201004/s2887482.htm. 2 May 2010 . live.
  20. https://web.archive.org/web/20070612234526/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/world-leaders-1/world-leaders-t/tonga.html Tonga: Cabinet members
  21. http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/pacbeat/stories/201109/s3307925.htm "Tonga's opposition welcomes foreign legal appointees"
  22. Web site: Edwards Law Tonga. Edwards Law Tonga. en. 2018-07-01.
  23. Web site: Our Staff. Cocker. Albert. www.justice.gov.to. en-gb. 2018-07-01.

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