The lineup of judiciary staff and the District Court changed this past week with the appointment of long-time Chief Clerk of Courts Ingrid Kabua to the position of District Court judge.
The Judicial Service Commission named Kabua to be a new District Court judge, following a pattern of appointments of long-serving clerks to judge roles.
Although there have been multiple Marshallese women named as Traditional Rights Court judges, Kabua is the first-ever female to serve as a judge on the District Court.
She started in 2004 as an Assistant Clerk of the Courts and later was elevated to Deputy Clerk. In 2010, she was named the Chief Clerk after her predecessor Walter Elbon became the Chief Judge for the Traditional Rights Court. Next month will mark the 21st anniversary for Kabua’s tenure with the RMI Judiciary.
Hainrick Moore, who has worked in court administration for 18 years, has been promoted to Chief Clerk of Courts, replacing Kabua. Kristen Kaminaga, also a long-serving clerk of courts, has been elevated to the Deputy Chief Clerk of Courts.
Tanya Lomae is the judiciary’s Finance Officer and Assistant Clerk of Courts.