Michael Kruse (judge)
Michael Kruse | |
|---|---|
| Chief Justice of the American Samoa High Court | |
| Assumed office November 1, 1988 | |
| Appointed by | Donald P. Hodel |
| Preceded by | Grover J. Rees III |
| Associate Justice of the American Samoa High Court | |
| In office March 1, 1987 – November 1, 1988 | |
| Appointed by | Donald P. Hodel |
| Preceded by | Thomas Murphy |
| Succeeded by | Grover J. Rees III |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Lealaialoa Fredrickus Michael Kruse January 27, 1948 Utulei, American Samoa |
| Education | Victoria University of Wellington (BA, LLB) George Washington University (MCL) |
Lealaialoa Fredrickus Michael Kruse (born January 27, 1948) is the Chief Justice of the High Court of American Samoa. Kruse made history as the first person of Samoan descent to be appointed Chief Justice of the High Court of American Samoa. Kruse earned his Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws degree from Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand, and later obtained an Master of Comparative Law degree from George Washington University Law School in Washington, DC. He practiced law for 11 years at the firm of Kruse, Sunia, and Ward in Pago Pago before being appointed Chief Justice by U.S. Secretary of the Interior, Donald Hodel. In January 2009, Kruse was chosen to serve as Secretary of the Pacific Judicial Council, a group comprising judges and justices from across the Pacific region.