Tonga has appointed its youngest female judge as the new chief magistrate.
Loupua Kiola Kulī, 50, has been promoted to the new position after four years of service as a senior magistrate since 2020.
Effective March 28, she has replaced former Chief Magistrate Sione Folau Lokotui, who retired last month.
Lokotui retired on March 27 after 15 years of service, having served approximately 55 years as a civil servant, mainly at the Ministry of Justice.
Kulī was presented with a gold medal during the USP 2010 graduation as part of her LLB qualification awards.
In 2016, she graduated with a Master of Laws.
She is the daughter of Mafi Kiola of Houma, Tongatapu, and Sūlia Kiola of Ha’afeva, Ha’apai.
Kulī is married to Ma‘afu Kulī of Lapaha and they have children.
