Daniel Fatiaki

Daniel Fatiaki
21st Chief Justice of Fiji
In office 1 August 2002 – 3 January 2007 (de facto) 5 December 2008 (de jure)
Preceded by	Sir Timoci Tuivaga
Succeeded by	Anthony Gates
Personal details
Born	Taniela Vafo'ou Fatiaki 1954 Motusa, Rotuma, Fiji
Citizenship	Fijian
Spouse(s)	Martha Fatiaki
Children	4 sons
Alma mater	University of the South Pacific University of Auckland
Religion	Roman Catholic

Taniela (Daniel) Vafo'ou Fatiaki CF (born 1954 in Upu, Motusa District, Rotuma) was the Chief Justice of Fiji from 1 August 2002, when he succeeded Sir Timoci Tuivaga, till 5 December 2008. As Chief Justice, he presided over both the High Court and the Supreme Court, but was constitutionally barred from presiding over, or even sitting on, the Appeal Court. On 3 January 2007, he was sent on leave by the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, which had seized power on 5 December 2006. On 19 January, he was formally suspended, pending an investigation into allegations of misconduct. This investigation was dropped in December 2008 as part of a deal that involved his formal resignation.

Fatiaki was born in Upu village in the district of Motusa, on the island of Rotuma, which enjoys a considerable degree of internal autonomy from Fiji. He moved with his family to Suva, the Fijian capital, for schooling. After attending Marist Brothers Primary School, he went on to study at Marist Brothers High School from 1967 to 1970. He enrolled in the Foundation Programme at the University of the South Pacific for one year, and won the Morris Hedstrom scholarship to study Law at the University of Auckland in New Zealand, from which he graduated in 1976.

Fatiaki practiced Law in New Zealand from 1977 to 1979, and in Fiji from 1979 to 1984. He was then appointed to the post of Commissioner for Oaths in Fiji. He later served as Fatiaki was previously Chairman of the Fiji Law Reform Commission in 1994 and 1995.

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