Mitzie Jessop-Taase was confirmed recently by the American Samoan Senate as the new Attorney General for the Territory.
She is a graduate of the Brigham Young University J. Reuben Clark Law School and long time resident of American Samoa.
Prior to this new position she worked as legal counsel to the president of the Senate in the American Samoa Fono (legislature).
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Senate president, Gaoteote Palaie, said her appointment should inspire young women that they can attain top leadership positions.
He said Jessop-Taase was an example of the Samoan adage, “E au le inailau a tamatai,” a reference to what women can achieve.
Jessop-Taase thanked the Senate president and senators for giving her the opportunity to serve as their counsel.
She said the lessons learned from working closely with the fathers of the territory was one that she could have never obtained in a classroom or text book, especially with the senators’ exercise of foresight and wisdom.
Several staffers from the Attorney-General's office and relatives of the nominee, including her mother and husband, attended the confirmation hearing.
Her husband, Bone Taase, is the football coach at Fagaitua High School and one of the directors of the junior football program on the island, called JPS.