Judiciary of Palau

The judicial branch of the government of Palau interprets and applies the laws of Palau, as modified by custom and tradition, to ensure equal justice under law, and to provide a mechanism for dispute resolution.

A number of ad hoc part-time Associate Justices are invited to sit on an as-needed basis.

The Supreme Court also handles disciplinary and other special proceedings.

The judiciary was created in 1981 when the Supreme Court was established, with Mamoru Nakamura as the first Chief Justice, until his death in 1992.

Nakamura has previously been the first Micronesian Associate Justice of the High Court of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.