Daniel Foley

Early life and education Daniel R. Foley received his bachelor's degree and his Juris Doctor degree from the University of San Francisco. Eventually becoming a Fellow at the American College of Civil Trial Mediators, Foley would go on to study mediation at the Mediation Center of the Pacific and Pepperdine School of Law.

PeaceCorps After college, Foley went on to serve as a volunteer in the Peace Corps for two years, from 1969 to 1970. Foley volunteered in the Kingdom of Lesotho.

Early work in Micronesia Though an American citizen, Foley was interested in the work of self-governance in Micronesia. Predominantly from 1975 to 1983, but throughout his career, he provided legal counsel to governmental bodies in the region. These included the Congress of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau National Congress, Tmk Legislature, Yap Legislature, Palau Legislature, Yap Constitutional Convention, Kosrae Constjtutional Convention, and the Voice of the Marshalls, alongside many local bodies. Though the prominent gay rights law firm Lambda Legal and his former employer, the American Civil Liberties Union, had both declined to represent the couples, Foley decided to take up the case on civil rights grounds.

In 2011, part-time Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Palau Janet Healy Weeks announced that she would be vacating the seat she was appointed to in 1993, in order to relocate to California. Johnson Toribiong, the President of Palau, announced on November 16, 2011, that he would appoint Daniel Foley to fill the vacancy. His experience with traditional and contemporary Micronesian leaders and governments was cited as key to his appointment.

Personal life Foley is married to Carlyn Tani.

Politics Foley supported Kim Coco Iwamoto for Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii in the 2018 Hawaii gubernatorial election, and chaired her unsuccessful Democratic campaign. Foley supported the passage of the Respect for Marriage Act, which was signed into law by President Joe Biden in December 2022.