The Rights and Liberties of the Palau Constitution Kevin Bennardo* INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................ 3 I. SUPREMACY AND AUTHORITY OF THE PALAU CONSTITUTION ............... 4 A. Supremacy of the National Constitution ....................................... 4 B. Delegation of Governmental Powers Including Authority Over Harmful Substances ...................................................................... 6 II. TERRITORY AND LANGUAGE ............................................................... 12 A. Territory of Palau ....................................................................... 12 B. Establishment of Permanent Capital .......................................... 14 C. Official and National Languages ............................................... 14 III. SPECIAL RIGHTS OF PALAUANS ........................................................... 14 A. Citizenship .................................................................................. 14 B. Acquisition of Land ..................................................................... 16 C. Voting Rights ............................................................................... 18 D. Right of Migration ...................................................................... 19 E. Non-Impairment of Contracts by Legislation ............................. 20 F. Examination of Government Documents .................................... 21 G. Health Care and Education ........................................................ 21 IV. FREEDOMS OF RELIGION, EXPRESSION AND ASSEMBLY ...................... 22 A. Freedom of Religion ................................................................... 22 B. Freedoms of Expression and Press ............................................. 22 C. Freedoms of Assembly and Petition ........................................... 24 V. TAKINGS CLAUSES .............................................................................. 24 VI. EQUAL PROTECTION CLAUSE .............................................................. 30 A. Foundations of Equal Protection Review: The Rising Tide of Suspect Classifications ............................................................... 30 B. Representation in Government ................................................... 32 C. Additional Equal Protection Case Law ...................................... 34 VII. DUE PROCESS CLAUSE ........................................................................ 37 A. Due Process Overview ................................................................ 37 B. The Process Due for Deprivation of Life .................................... 38 C. Decisionmakers in Criminal Proceedings .................................. 38 * Court Counsel to the Supreme Court of the Republic of Palau 2009-2010; J.D., 2007, The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law; B.A., 2003, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. The author expresses gratitude to Amy Ullrick, without whom his time in Palau would not have been possible—or half as enjoyable. Also, to the people of Palau, who, without exception, were enormously welcoming. 2 Asian-Pacific Law & Policy Journal [Vol. 12:2 D. Translation of Criminal Proceedings ......................................... 40 E. Statutory Issues ........................................................................... 40 F. Charging Issues .......................................................................... 41 G. Warrant Issues ............................................................................ 44 H. Non-Disclosure of Evidence ....................................................... 44 I. Non-Disclosure of the Identity of a Confidential Informant ....... 47 J. Civil Court Procedure for Deprivation of Property Rights ........ 48 K. Due Process Implications of Property Rights in Employment ... 52 L. Other Property Rights ................................................................ 55 VIII. SEARCHES AND WARRANTS ......................................................... 57 A. Interpretation of the Search and Seizure Guarantees ................. 57 B. Exceptions to the Warrant “Requirement” ................................. 59 C. Probable Cause and the Issuance and Scope of Warrants ......... 63 IX. CONFESSIONS AND SELF-INCRIMINATION ............................................ 66 A. Freedom from Compelled Self-Incrimination ............................. 66 B. Inadmissibility of Coerced Confessions as Evidence ................. 67 C. Necessity of Evidence Corroborating a Confession ................... 70 X. EXAMINATION AND COMPULSION OF WITNESSES ............................... 71 XI. RIGHT TO COUNSEL ............................................................................ 73 A. The Right to Appointed Counsel ................................................. 73 B. The Qualifications and Effectiveness of Counsel ....................... 74 XII. DOUBLE JEOPARDY CLAUSE ............................................................... 78 A. Jeopardy Limited to Criminal Prosecutions ............................... 78 B. The Attachment of Jeopardy ....................................................... 79 C. Multiple Punishments ................................................................. 80 D. Double Jeopardy Implications of Suspended Sentences ............. 84 XIII. ADDITIONAL CRIMINAL PROCEDURE RIGHTS AND RIGHTS OF THE ACCUSED ..................................................................................... 85 A. Overview ..................................................................................... 85 B. Bail Provision ............................................................................. 86 C. Habeas Corpus ........................................................................... 86 D. Liability of National Government for Unlawful Arrest and Damage to Private Property ....................................................... 87 E. The Accused’s Right to Be Informed of the Nature of the Accusation .................................................................................. 87 F. The Accused’s Right to a Speedy Trial ........................................ 89 G. The Accused’s Right to an Impartial Trial .................................. 90 H. Ex Post Facto Laws .................................................................... 91 I. The Accused’s Right to a Jury Trial ............................................ 91 XIV. FREEDOM FROM INHUMANE PUNISHMENT AND EXCESSIVE FINES . 93 A. Firearm-Related Punishments .................................................... 93 B. Controlled Substance-Related Punishments ............................... 96 C. Excessive Fines ........................................................................... 97 XV. ADDITIONAL RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES ................................................ 100 A. Victims’ Compensation ............................................................. 100 2011] Bennardo 3 B. Freedom from Slavery and Protection of Children................... 100 C. Familial Rights ......................................................................... 100 D. Academic Freedom ................................................................... 101 E. Prohibition on Land Tax ........................................................... 101 XVI. TRADITIONAL RIGHTS ............................................................... 102 A. Prohibition from Diminishing Roles of Traditional Leaders .... 102 B. Conflict Between Statutory and Traditional Law ..................... 104 C. Preservation and Promotion of Palauan Heritage ................... 106 XVII. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT ................. 107 XVIII. POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF STATE GOVERNMENTS ........ 108 A. State Governance Overview ..................................................... 108 B. Guarantee Clause ..................................................................... 108 C. Delegation of Powers to the States ............................................110 APPENDIX: SELECTED TEXT OF THE PALAU CONSTITUTION ......................112 Article I (Territory), as amended by the Twenty-Sixth Amendment ..112 Article II (Sovereignty and Supremacy) ............................................113 Article III (Citizenship) .....................................................................114 Article IV (Fundamental Rights).......................................................114 Article V (Traditional Rights) ...........................................................117 Article VI (Responsibilities of the National Government), as amended by the Twenty-Third Amendment .......................................118 Article VII (Suffrage), as amended by the Eighteenth Amendment ..118 Article IX (Olbiil Era Kelulau) .........................................................118 Article XI (State Governments) .........................................................119 Article XIII (General Provisions) .....................................................119 First Amendment .............................................................................. 121 Second Amendment .......................................................................... 122 INTRODUCTION In the nearly thirty years since the Constitution of the Republic of Palau went into effect, the constitutional jurisprudence of the Supreme Court of Palau has grown to such a quantum that it now primarily refers to its own case law without the need to look to other jurisdictions for