Senior Supreme Court Judge Justice Vui Clarence Nelson has retired from the Judiciary of Samoa, bringing to an end almost three decades of service to Samoa's courts.
Justice Vui held his final sitting on Wednesday, surrounded by his friends, family and members of the judiciary.
According to the Ministry of Justice Courts and Administration, Justice Vui was first appointed to the Bench as a District Court Judge in 2000 before being elevated to the Supreme Court in December 2006. In November 2021, he was appointed Senior Supreme Court Judge, a position he held until his retirement in June 2026.
Justice Vui presided over the first Supreme Court trial involving assessors in Savai‘i, where he handed down a life sentence in a double murder case.
The matter was seen as a milestone for improving access to justice in Savai‘i and reducing delays in serious criminal trials.
