Viran Molisa Trief (born 1977) is a Ni-Vanuatu jurist who has been a member of the Supreme Court of Vanuatu since July 2019; she was the first Ni-Vanuatu woman to hold that role. She previously served as Solicitor General, and was the first woman to that role.
Viran Molisa Trief | |
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.jpg) Trief at her swearing-in ceremony (2019) | |
| Justice of the Supreme Court of Vanuatu | |
| Assumed office July 2019 | |
| Appointed by | Tallis Obed Moses |
| Personal details | |
| Parents |
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| Alma mater | |
Early life and education
editTrief is the daughter of Grace Mera Molisa and Sela Molisa, who were both instrumental in the founding of the Republic of Vanuatu in 1980.[1] She is the eldest of three children; her brother Pala is a lecturer at Victoria University's Business School.[2] They grew up in Port Vila, but went to New Zealand for their secondary education.[2] Trief went to Nelson College for Girls, before graduating from Victoria University of Wellington with a Bachelor of Laws with honours in 2001.[3] She also has a Bachelor of Tourism Services Management.[1] She graduated with a Master of Public Policy from the Australian National University in 2011, winning the Raymond Apthorpe Master Degree Prize for the best overall result in the degree.[4]
Career
editTrief worked at the State Law office as a researcher. She became a State Counsel in 2003 and Assistant Senior State Counsel in 2004.[1] She was program coordinator of the Vanuatu Australian Policing and Justice Program.[3] She was appointed Solicitor General in March 2009.[1] She also served as Secretary of the Law Council and Disciplinary Committee until her appointment to the Court.[3]
Trief was appointed to the Supreme Court by President Tallis Obed Moses in May 2019 and sworn-in in July.[3] She was one of ten local and international applicants for the position.[5] She is the first Ni-Vanuatu woman to be appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Vanuatu.[6]
Personal life
editTrief is married with three children.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "Vanuatu as first female Solicitor General". Pacific Islands Report. 16 March 2009. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
- ^ a b Husband, Dale (9 April 2016). "Pala Molisa: It's time for Māori and Pasifika to rebuild our links". E-Tangata. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
- ^ a b c d Nanua, Richard M. (16 July 2019). "First Ni-Vanuatu Female Supreme Court Judge". Daily Post. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
- ^ "Raymond Apthorpe Master Degree Prize" (PDF). Australian National University.
- ^ "First Ni-Van Female Supreme Court Judge". Daily Post. 15 May 2019. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
- ^ "Hon. Justice Viran Molisa Trief - Judiciary of the Republic of Vanuatu".