Chief Justice Amaraich: Rest in Peace

CRM joins the nation in mourning the death of one of our Chuukese heroes in public service the Honorable Chief Justice Andon L. Amaraich. He passed on January 26, 2010 at Straub Hospital in Honolulu from pneumonia and other complications. Amafel Amaraich was one of the founding fathers of our nation who came from Ta in the Mortlocks. Most notable during his long career in public service was his leadership in the negotiation of our Compact of Free Association with the U.S., and his personal involvement in drafting the FSM Constitution. He also left his mark on the global community as the first Secretary of the FSM Department of External Affairs before his appointment to the FSM Supreme Court.

At a time when Chuuk suffers from seemingly endless negativity, the life and legacy of this great man and public servant shall stand forever as our inspiration. During his life, he undoubtedly inspired many young Chuukese to aspire for humble greatness. One of those who had the honor of working with him was then a young Chuukese college student Kasio “Kembo” Mida, Jr., who has since finished  law school and returned to practice law in the FSM. He reflected on the life of his former mentor:

I conducted my summer senior internship in 1999 with the late Chief Justice Andon L. Amaraich at the FSM Supreme Court.  When I left the Court that summer he instilled in me the desire to want to return to the FSM and some how be apart of the legal system.

Although he was a very busy man, he always made time to talk to me about my future plans and often reminded me about the lack of local attorneys and the need to change that trend.   When he talked, he was reserved with his words but you knew that just about everything he said was important.  I was intimated of him because of all of his accomplishments, but he always made me feel at ease by making funny jokes just in the nick of time.   He had a great sense of humor.

When I successfully passed the FSM bar in 2008 and appeared in my first trial in front of him, he took a minute before the proceeding began and welcomed me to the FSM bar.  He mentioned to the other attorneys that I had once clerked for him.  I could see that he was proud.  He played a big role in me becoming an attorney and returning home to be a part of the FSM legal system.  It was an honor to clerk for him.  Fokkun Kinisou Chapur.

For a more comprehensive articles on the life of the late Chief Justice Amaraich, please read

• “The Federated States of Micronesia Mourns the Loss of One of its Founding Fathers: Chief Justice Andon Amaraich” - FSM Government Press Release
• “FSM Chief Justice Amaraich Dies” – Pacific News Center

Photo by Margo Vitarelli.