State Funeral For Late Chief Justice Of The FSM Supreme Court YAP, FSM (YapStateGov News Release, Sept. 15, 2014) — On the morn of Wednesday, September 10, 2014, the State Funeral for the late Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Federated of Micronesia, The Honorable Martin G. Yinug, was held at the Yap State Legislative Chamber. The State Funeral lasted until noon, when the remains of the late Chief Justice was then moved to the family property for burial the next day. By 9:00 AM, the venue was slowly filled with official dignitaries before the remains of the late Chief Justice was escorted in to the Legislative Chamber by family members and friends, and Yap State and FSM National honor guards. The ceremony finally began at 10:27 AM, with Director of FSM Supreme Court Administration Kapilly Capelle acting as master of ceremony and welcoming the many dignitaries to the State Funeral. Dignitaries from other island states attending the State Funeral included: Chief Justice Arthur Ngiraklsong of the Palau Supreme Court, Associate Justice F. Philip Carbullido of the Supreme Court of Guam, Chief Justice Carl B. Ingram of the High Court of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Associate Justice John A. Manglona of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Supreme Court. Dignitaries from the FSM National Government included: Vice President Alik L. Alik, Secretary of Transportation, Communication & Infrastructure Francis Itimai and Secretary of Education Rufino Mauricio from the FSM Executive Branch; Associate Justice Ready E. Johnny, Associate Justice Beauleen Carl-Worswick, Director Kapilly Capelle, Staff Attorney Daniel Rescue, Jr., Chief Clerk Kohsak M. Keller, National Justice Ombudsman Belan Yoma and Staff Attorney Larry Wentworth from the FSM Supreme Court; Vice Speaker Paliknoa K. Welly, Chairman of the External Affairs Committee Yosiwo P. George, Chairman of the Way & Means Committee Isaac V. Figir, and the Chairman of the Health, Education, & Social Affairs Committee Joseph Urusemal from the Congress of the FSM. The Federated States also sent dignitaries to Yap for the State Funeral—Chief Justice Aliksa B. Aliksa of the Kosrae State Court, for example. The U.S. Embassy also sent Consular Officer Bill Cook to represent Her Excellency Ambassador Rosen. The Yap State Leadership was also present during the State Funeral. Following the invocation and the singing of the FSM National Anthem, the Vice President of the FSM, The Honorable Alik L. Alik provide his remarks on behalf of the FSM President and his administration. He began his speech by acknowledging the traditional leaders, family members of the late Chief Justice, the Yap State and FSM National Leaderships, distinguished leaders, and guests and friends from throughout Micronesia and abroad, to the mourning, the paying of respect, and the sharing in sadness in the passing of the late Chief Justice. He noted that President Manny Mori was out of the country, but that he sent his regards to the family. Vice President Alik shared his opinions of the late Chief Justice, noting that hell be a sorely missed leader—a humble man of high principles, of few but eloquent words, of impeccable integrity and high morality. The people of the FSM stands as beneficiaries of the late Chief Justices loyalty and sacrifice, and that he can rest well knowing that it is a better place cause if his work. Vice President Alik then turned his remarks to the family members, expressing words of comfort, and thanking the family for allowing the Chief Justice his career of public service. On behalf of the Speaker and the 18th Congress of the FSM, Vice Speaker Paliknoa K. Welly paid his respects to the leaders of Yap and to the Chief Justices family—naming the Mrs. Yinug and their sons and daughter. Vice Speaker Welly delivered an eloquent speech lamenting the loss of the late Martin G. Yinug, and offering solace to the people of the FSM after the wake of Yinugs sudden and untimely passing. He bids the people to remember Yinug as an excellent role model—a high achiever with a colorful career history and education who showed many that it can be done in a time when many Micronesians did not know college or what the Law was. Time to say farewell, and rest in peace. Associate Justice Beauleen Carl-Worswick then began her remarks on behalf of the FSM Supreme Court, highlighting the virtues and the many accomplishments of the late Chief Justice. She shared her view of the late Yinug as a family man, who was also a dedicated public servant and leader—the longest serving Justice of the FSM Supreme Court... [who] championed the Rule of Law. She listed his numerous judicial landmark achievements, including most recently becoming the President of the Pacific Judicial Council in 2013. She expressed that she will fondly remember him as a patient man who willingly shared his knowledge with his underlings, and that his family will be kept in thought and prayer. On behalf of the State Court of Yap, Associate Justice Jesse Torwan delivered his humble remarks to the State Funeral. He shared the Yap State Courts expressed sorrow and condolences to the wife and children of Yinug. He expressed his gratitude to the late Chief Justice for his judicial training—a program that allowed him to become the newest Justice of the Yap State Court. He expressed his owed duty to Yinug and his family. After the speeches, master of ceremony read the numerous communications from the FSM, Micronesia and abroad. Director Capelle began by reading the FSM Presidential Proclamation, followed by numerous letters and certificates from Justices, the diplomatic corps, organizations and governments from the region. After the reading of the numerous letters, Vice Speaker Theodore Ted Rutun of the 8th Legislature of the State of Yap delivered the eulogy. His personal eulogy shared the upbringing of the late Chief Justice; he divulged that they were of a comparable age, but young Yinug started school at the age of 9. Despite the late start in his education, Vice Speaker Rutun remembers young Yinug had a humble disposition, but was quick in his studies and soon grew to have an amazing education. After the benediction, the gathering was welcomed to the closed viewing within the Legislative Chamber, and to offer condolences to the awaiting family members of Yinug. Background Born on October 18, 1949 in Guror Village, Gilman Municipality on the Yap Islands, Martin G. Yinug was the third Chief Justice to the FSM Supreme Court. After graduation from high school, he attended San Francisco State University, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in June 1972. Yinug then attended the Catholic University of American School of Law, earning a Juris Doctor in June 1980. Yinug’s long and illustrious professional career began as an Administrative Assistant with the Yap Delegation to the Congress of Micronesia from 1972 to 1976, as well as an Interpreter during the 1975 Micronesian Constitutional Convention in Saipan, Mariana Islands. Yinug went on to serve as the Directing Attorney for the Yap Branch of the Micronesian Legal Services Corporation from 1980 to 1982, then Legislative Counsel for the Yap State Legislature from 1982 to 1988, and served as Floor Leader of the Yap Constitutional Convention in August of 1982. Appointed to Associate Justice of the Yap State Court in 1988, Yinug embarked on a judicial career that would span over twenty-six years. In 1992, he was appointed and confirmed to serve as an Associate Justice of the FSM Supreme Court—a post he would hold until 2010. With the passing of former Chief Justice Andon L. Amaraich, Yinug served as Acting Chief Justice from 2010 to 2011. In March of 2010, President Manny Mori submitted to the FSM Congress the nomination of Martin G. Yinug to serve as the third Chief Justice of the FSM Supreme Court. This nomination was confirmed by FSM Congress on August 2, 2010 by a unanimous vote of confidence and Honorable Chief Justice Martin G. Yinug took his Oath of Office as the Chief Justice of the FSM Supreme Court on May 5, 2011. In September of 2013, Chief Justice Yinug was elected by the members of the Pacific Judicial Council (PJC) as the President of this regional judicial organization. The term was for two years starting January, 2014. Chief Justice Martin G. Yinug served his country in this capacity until his untimely passing on August 31, 2014. Chief Justice Martin G. Yinug is survived by his wife, Ruth Layan, his sons—Christopher Falanpong, Jack A. Bay, Wendall P. Setham, Kenneth S. Fanaguchel, and Davis D. Dabey—his daughter, Janice Falee, and nine grandchildren.
Posted on: Thu, 09 Oct 2014 07:00:20 +0000
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