Andon L. Amaraich (August 24, 1932, on the island of Ta, in what is now

Chuuk State Chuuk State (; also known as Truk) is one of the four states of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). It consists of several island groups: Nomoneas, Faichuk, Faichuuk, the Hall Islands, Namonuito Atoll (Magur Islands), Pattiw (Western Isl ...

Federated States of Micronesia The Federated States of Micronesia (, abbreviated FSM), or simply Micronesia, is an island country in Micronesia, a region of Oceania. The federation encompasses the majority of the Caroline Islands (excluding Palau) and consists of four Admin ...

– January 26, 2010, in

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Hawaii Hawaii ( ; ) is an island U.S. state, state of the United States, in the Pacific Ocean about southwest of the U.S. mainland. One of the two Non-contiguous United States, non-contiguous U.S. states (along with Alaska), it is the only sta ...

) was a Micronesian public servant, politician, diplomat and judge. He was, at the time of his death, Chief Justice of the

Supreme Court In most legal jurisdictions, a supreme court, also known as a court of last resort, apex court, high (or final) court of appeal, and court of final appeal, is the highest court within the hierarchy of courts. Broadly speaking, the decisions of ...

. He has been described by the Micronesian government as "one of the

founding father The following is a list of national founders of sovereign states who were credited with establishing a state. National founders are typically those who played an influential role in setting up the systems of governance, (i.e., political system ...

s of the Federated States of Micronesia"."The Federated States of Micronesia Mourns the loss of one of its Founding Fathers: Chief Justice Andon Amaraich"
, Government of the F.S. Micronesia, January 28, 2010,

Studies and public service

Having graduated from the Pacific Islands Central School, Amaraich worked briefly as a primary school teacher in Chuuk from 1951 to 1952, before entering civil service. He was Assistant Clerk to the Truk (Chuuk) District Court from 1955 to 1956, then served for ten years as Chief Public Defender. He subsequently served as Assistant District Administrator for Public Affairs in the government of the

Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands The Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (TTPI) was a United Nations trust territory in Micronesia administered by the United States from 1947 to 1994. The Imperial Japanese South Seas Mandate had been seized by the U.S. during the Pacifi ...

, under

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

colonial administration.

Political career

In 1959, he entered the colonial district legislative Council, before serving in the Chuuk District Senate from 1965 to 1974. There, he served as chairman on the Committee on Judiciary and Governmental Operations, as well as being a member of the Ways and Means Committee. From 1962, he was an advisor to the United States administration in the Trusteeship Council. From 1976 to 1987, he was chairman the Commission on the Future Political Status and Transition, before being appointed chief negotiator on the

Compact of Free Association The Compacts of Free Association (COFA) are international agreements establishing and governing the relationships of free association between the United States and the three Pacific Island sovereign states of the Federated States of Micronesia ( ...

with the United States – described as "one of his greatest accomplishments". As the country prepared for independence, in 1975, he served on the legal staff of the Micronesian Constitutional Convention, "where he personally drafted many of the provisions of the FSM Constitution".

Diplomatic career

From 1979 to 1990, Amaraich was the first-ever secretary of the F.S. Micronesia's Department of External Affairs, under

president President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television *'' Præsident ...

Tosiwo Nakayama was the first President of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). He served two terms from 1979 until 1987. Biography Nakayama was born on November 23, 1931, on Pisaras, part of Namonuito Atoll in what is now Chuuk State. At the time of his ...

and John Haglelgam. In that function, he "played an instrumental role in developing diplomatic relationships with other nations" around the world, and "almost single-handedly organized the Department of External Affairs".

Career as judge

He was appointed

Associate Justice An associate justice or associate judge (or simply associate) is a judicial panel member who is not the chief justice in some jurisdictions. The title "Associate Justice" is used for members of the Supreme Court of the United States and some ...

on the Supreme Court in 1990, then Chief Justice in 1993, following the resignation of Chief Justice

Edward C. King Edward is an English male name. It is derived from the Anglo-Saxon name ''Ēadweard'', composed of the elements '' ēad'' "wealth, fortunate; prosperous" and '' weard'' "guardian, protector”. History The name Edward was very popular in Anglo-Sa ...

. He was only the second Chief Justice in the country's history, and the first

Micronesian citizen The nationality law of the Federated States of Micronesia determines who is or may become a citizen or national of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). Article III of the Constitution of the Federated States of Micronesia provides the basis ...

to hold that post – King being an

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. As Chief Justice, Amaraich was "an active member" of the

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, and also served as Vice Chairman of the Pacific Judicial Development Program Executive Board.

Death

Suffering from "

pneumonia Pneumonia is an Inflammation, inflammatory condition of the lung primarily affecting the small air sacs known as Pulmonary alveolus, alveoli. Symptoms typically include some combination of Cough#Classification, productive or dry cough, ches ...

and other complications", Amaraich travelled to Honolulu on January 15 2010 for "medical tests and treatment". He died eleven days later in

Straub Clinic & Hospital Straub Benioff Medical Center is not-for-profit health care system with a 159-bed hospital in Honolulu, and a network of neighborhood clinics. History George F. Straub founded the clinic in 1921. Dr. Straub was educated in Germany and came to pr ...

."Micronesian chief justice dies in Honolulu"
, ''Star Bulletin'', January 28, 2010 He received a

state funeral A state funeral is a public funeral ceremony, observing the strict rules of protocol, held to honour people of national significance. State funerals usually include much pomp and ceremony as well as religious overtones and distinctive elements o ...

References

External links

Biography / necrology by the F.S.M. government
{{DEFAULTSORT:Amaraich, Andon 1932 births 2010 deaths People from Chuuk State Federated States of Micronesia judges Chief justices of the Federated States of Micronesia Federated States of Micronesia diplomats Foreign ministers of the Federated States of Micronesia Members of the Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia Deaths from pneumonia in Hawaii Government ministers of the Federated States of Micronesia Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands politicians Members of the Congress of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands Public defenders