The federal judiciary across Micronesia is mourning the passing of Senior Judge Alex R. Munson — a man who shaped courts and communities across the Pacific for more than four decades.

The second chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands, Munson died December 5 in Sandpoint, Idaho. He was 84.

Appointed in 1982 as chief justice of the high court of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Judge Munson helped guide Micronesia through historic transitions — hearing dozens of appeals and setting legal foundations still felt today.

In 1988, he was nominated by President Ronald Reagan to lead the District Court of the NMI, where he oversaw its evolution into a fully modern federal court. He served two terms as chief judge, taking senior status in 2010 but continuing to return to the islands to assist the bench.

His service extended beyond the CNMI — acting as a designated judge in Guam, and an associate justice in Palau and American Samoa. Colleagues remember him as compassionate, principled, and unwavering in his integrity.

Guam District Court Chief Judge Frances Tydingco-Gatewood called him a mentor who brought “calm, dignity, and genuine care” to every case and every person before him.

Judge Alex Munson leaves behind a legacy of respect, service, and judicial excellence that resonates throughout the Pacific.

He is survived by his wife, Kathy, and his extended family.