Loupua Pahulu-Kuli has made history as Tonga’s first female and youngest Chief Magistrate.
Her appointment, effective March 28, was endorsed by the King upon the Judicial Appointment and Disciplinary Panel’s recommendation.
Pahulu-Kuli, 50, previously served as a Senior Magistrate since January 2020. She is one of the three female magistrates currently presiding in Tonga’s Magistrate Courts.
Her academic achievements include a Bachelor of Laws from the University of the South Pacific, where she was honoured as the Valedictorian in 2010 and received the Gold Medal for Best All Round Female Graduate. She furthered her studies with a Master of Laws in 2016.
She succeeds Sione Folau Lokotui, who retired on last month ending nearly 55 years as a civil servant, mostly with the Ministry of Justice.
Pahulu-Kuli is contracted to serve as Chief Magistrate until the age of 72, a 22-year tenure. Her appointment is seen as a progressive step towards gender inclusivity in Tonga’s legal system.
