American Samoa's Attorney General, Sialega Malaetasi Togafau, has told a local commission reviewing the territory's political status that the Deed of Cession adequately provides protection for lands and titles in American Samoa.
He said any move to replace the Deed with a treaty would require an act of Congress.
Sialega feels the Governor should have the power to appoint the Chief Justice and the Associate Chief Justice.
These appointments are currently made by the Secretary of the Interior.
The Attorney General also advocates appointing local justices to sit on federal cases rather than establishing federal courts in American Samoa.
