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First Woman Associate Justice of FSM Supreme Court Takes Oath of Office

Palikir, Pohnpei (FSM Information Services): September 22, 2010 - Beauleen Carl-Worswick, the first woman in FSM to be nominated and confirmed as Associate Justice of the FSM Supreme Court, took her oath of office yesterday at the FSM Supreme Court in Palikir.

The investiture proceedings for Carl-Worswick began with a beautiful rendition by Marson Carl of the FSM National Anthem, followed by an invocation from Pastor Epal Ilon and a song delivered by the Ohwa Church Choir. The FSM Supreme Court boasted a full house, with the presence of President Mori, members of the 16th FSM Congress, Chief Justice Yinug, Associate Justices Yamase and Johnny, Cabinet members, His Excellency Leo Falcam, Speaker Pelep of the Pohnpei Legislature, Chief Justice Rodrigues, Chief Justice Aliksa, Associate Justices of Pohnpei Supreme Court, members of the Pohnpei Legislature; and, for lack of space, many friends and family relatives present on the stoop of the Supreme Court to witness this historical event.

President Mori congratulated Carl-Worswick for her outstanding achievements. Following Mori's words of praise, the FSM Supreme Court Director, Kapilly Capelle, acting as Master of Ceremony, outlined Carl-Worswick impressive resume: she was born in Pohnpei, in 1962; earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from Hawaii Loa College in Honolulu in 1984; graduated with a Juris Doctorate from Gonzaga University of Law in Spokane, Washington, in 1990; and passed the FSM Bar Examination in May 1992.

Carl-Woswick began her career in 1990, as a law clerk for the FSM Supreme Court. In 1992, she was hired by the FSM Office of the Attorney General, as a Legal Specialist; and in 1995, moved to Yap to work as Assistant Attorney General for the Yap State Attorney General's Office. In 1996, she worked as a Staff Attorney for the National Public Defender's Office of Yap; and in 1998, she returned to Pohnpei to work as General Counsel for the Pohnpei Utilities Corporation. She became the FSM Chief Public Defender in 1999, a position she held until 2007. From 2008 to 2010, she held the position of Court Staff Attorney for the Pohnpei Supreme Court.

"A remarkable career path that took her through almost, if not, all the areas of legal practice," said Capelle; "a career path which comes full circle to where she is standing now."

With her hand set on the Supreme Court Bible, Carls-Worswick took her oath of office, administered by Chief Justice Yinug. "Today must go down in the history of our Nation as a groundbreaking event," said Yinug, "a woman will now sit in one of the highest positions of this Nation."

Carl-Worswick explained that she was only nine years old, when in 1971, her father became a district court judge for Ponape District Court. She said that since then, she dared to dream to become a judge someday and that she was truly happy and thankful that her father was still well and able to share this important occasion with her on her birthday.

"I believe today's event marks a new milestone in the development of our country because participation of women in the role of decision-making is regarded as one of the biggest disparities between men and women in our island coutries," said Carl-Worswick; "therefore, I hope that today's event will stand as a testimony that the FSM recognizes and acknowledges the need for a change and for the voices of women in our country to be heard."

"It is my hope that today's event will serve to encourage all young women in FSM to strive to their fullest potential to make their dreams a success come true."