Patu Tiava'asu'e Falefatu Sapolu
Patu Tiava'asu'e Falefatu Sapolu is a Samoan lawyer and judge. He was Chief Justice of Samoa from 1992 to 2019.
Sapolu is from Vaiala. He was educated at Marist Mulivai and at St. Joseph’s College in Samoa. He attended the University of Otago and University of Auckland in New Zealand on a government scholarship, graduating with a Bachelor of Laws in 1972. He subsequently worked at the Attoney-General's office, as a temporary magistrate, and as a Court Registrar. In 1988 he was appointed Attorney-General of Samoa.
In 1991 he was appointed Acting Chief Justice of Samoa. The position was made permanent, and he was sworn in on 20 July 1992. As Chief Justice he oversaw the construction of a new court house, the raising of the judicial retirement age from 62 to 68, and the establishment of specialist courts such as the Family Court and Coroners Court.
In 2010 Sapolu was the target of a failed assassination plot, along with Prime Minister Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi. He was the target of further threats in 2018.
Sapolu retired on 23 April 2019. He was replaced in March 2020 by Satiu Simativa Perese. Following his retirement he became a part-time lecturer in lands and titles law at the National University of Samoa.
