Viran Molisa Trief

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
Trief at her swearing-in ceremony (2019)
Justice of the Supreme Court of Vanuatu
Assumed office
July 2019
Appointed byTallis Obed Moses
Personal details
Parents
Alma mater

Early life and education

Trief 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

Trief 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

Trief is married with three children.[1]

References
  1. "Vanuatu as first female Solicitor General". Pacific Islands Report. 16 March 2009. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  2. Husband, Dale (9 April 2016). "Pala Molisa: It's time for Māori and Pasifika to rebuild our links". E-Tangata. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  3. Nanua, Richard M. (16 July 2019). "First Ni-Vanuatu Female Supreme Court Judge". Daily Post. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  4. "Raymond Apthorpe Master Degree Prize" (PDF). Australian National University.
  5. "First Ni-Van Female Supreme Court Judge". Daily Post. 15 May 2019. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  6. "Hon. Justice Viran Molisa Trief - Judiciary of the Republic of Vanuatu".
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