Todd Osterloh’s law career has come full circle.
Nearly 20 years after serving as a court counsel (law clerk) to the Supreme Court of the Republic of Palau, Osterloh has been appointed justice to the Supreme Court of Palau.
He was sworn in as justice on Tuesday.
“I am extremely excited about being a justice on the Supreme Court of Palau,” Osterloh said. “I’ve always enjoyed the academic nature of the law, which is one of the reasons I went to law school. As a practicing attorney, I learned to appreciate the intersection of the academic side of the profession and real world applications.
“Court cases are not decided in a vacuum, and all attorneys must recognize that fact. Judges do, too. So I am eager to be in a decision-making role in which we must weigh various factors and how a certain set of facts fit within the context of the law.”
Osterloh, his wife Kate and their sons Alex and Will have moved to Palau, an island nation in the Western Pacific Ocean. It’s over 7,000 miles away from Frankfort.
“The adjustment has been surprising smooth,” Kate said. “The boys haven’t started school yet, but they are doing a great job getting used to our new normal.”
Osterloh was appointed by Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr., to fill a vacancy in the Appellate Division of the Palauan Supreme Court. The Appellate Division is responsible for deciding appeals from all lower courts in Palau, including the Trial Division, the Court of Common Pleas and the Land Court.
Prior to their move to Palau, the Osterlohs had lived in Frankfort since 2006.
Todd is a graduate of Woodford County, Western Kentucky University, and the University of Kentucky College of Law. After returning to Kentucky from his one-year term as a court counsel in Palau, he spent four years as a staff attorney for the Kentucky Public Service Commission before joining the Lexington law firm of Sturgill, Turner, Barker and Moloney PLLC in 2011.
In the last 15 years, Osterloh has focused his practice on energy and utilities laws, but he kept track of Palau.
“Because my first stint in Palau was such an amazing experience, I tried to keep up with current events in Palau,” he said. “I had seen the vacancy posting for the justice position, which was open due to the death of one of the justices. Kate and I talked it over, and I decided to apply just to see what would happen. And, somehow, I got the job.”
Justices to the Palau Supreme Court are appointed by the president, but before that can happen, the Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC) vets candidates and submits a list of seven candidates to the president’s office.
The JNC is composed of the Chief Justice, three attorneys and members of the Palau Bar Association, and three non-attorney citizens, and in August 2025, Osterloh flew to Los Angeles to interview with some of the JNC members who came to the U.S. for the interviews.
Osterloh received an email in November telling him he was one of the seven candidates the JNC submitted to the president. Osterloh and President Whipps met by Zoom the week before Thanksgiving, and he received the president’s appointment.
“As much excitement as I have about the job, I am equally excited about returning to Palau with Kate, Alex and Will,” Osterloh said. “Palau is truly paradise. There are few places on Earth that can rival the natural beauty of Palau. The ocean here is unparalleled. Alex and Will have already gotten certified to scuba dive in a place that most divers consider the Mecca of diving.
“But beyond the physical environment, the Palauan community is amazing. Because it is such a small population, everyone knows everyone. As a result, Palauans are extremely welcoming. Kate and I have already been invited to play on the judiciary’s recreational volleyball team against other governmental agencies. And Palauans are extremely supportive in every way. When someone needs help, help is given. I am thrilled that we get to enable our boys to experience this culture.”
The Osterlohs coached the Franklin County High School girls volleyball team from 2007-2010. Kate was an educator with Franklin County Schools for over 20 years and worked closely with the drama program at FCHS and the Bluegrass Theater Guild.
She’s weighing her options for future employment.
“I do plan to work, but I have no idea where or what I will do,” Kate said. “I dedicated a lot of my life to teaching, and I loved it, but I think I want to try something new here. There is a community college, Palau Community College, and I’ve toyed with working there. But right now I’m taking my time and making sure I choose wisely. The local high school does have an arts club that does some theater, and I’m hoping to get involved there!
“I miss Frankfort, but am so thankful for technology that helps me keep in touch with friends and family. And blogging about our adventure has been almost therapeutic.”
