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Fiti A. Sunia

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Fiti A. Sunia
Associate Justice of the High Court of American Samoa
Assumed office
January 4, 2019
Appointed byDavid Bernhardt
Preceded byLyle Richmond
Judge of the District Court of American Samoa
In office
January 15, 2016 – January 4, 2019
Appointed byLolo Moliga
Preceded byJohn Ward
Succeeded byGwen Tauili'ili-Langkilde[1]
Attorney General of American Samoa
In office
January 1, 2002 – December 31, 2004
GovernorTauese Sunia
Togiola Tulafono
Preceded byToetagata Albert Mailo
Succeeded byMalaetasi Togafau
Personal details
Born
Fiti Alesana Sunia

(1960-08-29) August 29, 1960 (age 64)
Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
RelativesFofō Sunia (father)
Tauese Sunia (uncle)
Faoa Sunia (uncle)
EducationDrake University (BA)
American University (MPA)
Howard University (JD)

Fiti Alesana Sunia (born August 29, 1960) is an American lawyer who has served as the associate justice of the High Court of American Samoa since 2019.

Early life and education

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Sunia was born on August 29, 1960, in Honolulu, Hawaii. He attended Samoana High School in Utulei, American Samoa before finishing high school at Mid-Pacific Institute in Honolulu.

Sunia earned his bachelor's degree in public administration from Drake University and, in 1983, earned a master's degree in public administration from American University.[2] He earned his J.D. from Howard University in 1993.

Career

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After earning his master's degree, Sunia worked as a Congressional staffer to U.S. Representative Mervyn Dymally of California.[3]

Sunia began his legal career at Patton Boggs in Washington, D.C. from 1993 to 1997.[2] He returned to American Samoa in 1997, joining the territory's attorney general office. From 2002 to 2004, Sunia served as the Attorney General of American Samoa.[4] He then started his own private practice in American Samoa.[2][5]

On January 15, 2016, Sunia was confirmed by the American Samoa Senate as a judge of the District Court of American Samoa.[6]

On January 4, 2019, United States Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt appointed Sunia as the associate justice of the High Court of American Samoa.[7] Chief Justice F. Michael Kruse serves alongside Sunia.

Personal life

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Sunia's father, Fofō Sunia,[8] served as the first non-voting Delegate from American Samoa to the United States House of Representatives. His uncle, Tauese Sunia, was the fifth elected Governor of American Samoa.

Sunia carries the matai title of Muagutitia in Pu'apu'a, Samoa.[6]

References

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  1. ^ "Senate confirms new District Court Judge Gwen Tauiliili-Langkilde". www.samoanews.com. February 18, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "Confirmation hearing scheduled for Fiti Sunia, for Judge Pro Tem for District Court". www.samoanews.com. 2014-03-28. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
  3. ^ https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-CRECB-1988-pt7/pdf/GPO-CRECB-1988-pt7-6-2.pdf
  4. ^ "AG Bio". legal-affairs. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  5. ^ "Fiti Sunia appointed as new Associate Justice of the High Court". www.samoanews.com. 2019-01-07. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  6. ^ a b "Judge Fiti Sunia Replaces Judge Ward in District Court". Talanei. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  7. ^ "Fiti Sunia is Interior's choice for Associate Justice". Talanei. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  8. ^ "'Auafa o Upu is Latest Book by Fofo I.F. Sunia". Talanei.
Legal offices
Preceded by
Lyle Richmond
Associate Justice of the High Court of American Samoa
2019–present
Incumbent