commonwealth judiciary - 2012 annual report
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ÂTRANSCRIPT
The
Northern Mariana Islands
2 Message from the Chief Justice
3 Justices and Judges
4 Chief Justice Investiture
5 reports
6 Supreme Court
8 Superior Court
10 Family Court
11 OfficeofAdultProbation
13 Law Revision Commission
14 Marshal Service Division
15 community outreach and education
19 transitions
23 in memoriam
25 ProfessionalDevelopment
26 Northern Marianas Judiciary Historical Society
27 Judiciary Staff
28 celebrations
table of contents
NMI JudIcIary 1aNNual report 2012
AWell-functioningIndependentJudiciary
Justices, judges, and court personnel must undergo appropriate training. The courthouses in Saipan, Tinian,andRotamustnotcontinuetofallintodisrepair.Wemustusemoderntechnologytobridgeourislands so that judicial services are provided in a timely fashion. In order to accomplish these goals, the CommonwealthJudiciarymustbeadequatelyfunded.Howcanweputapricetagonawell-functioningand independent judiciary?
LegalrepresentationsforthePoor
In the past, the Judiciary has appointed private practitioners to represent indigent parties with compen-sationprovidedfromtheJudiciary’sbudget.Toimproveefficiencyanddecreasecosts,theCourt, incoordinationwiththeBarAssociation,hasrecentlyestablishedaConflictsCounselProgramthatisnowresponsibleforsteppinginwhenthePublicDefender’sofficehasaconflict.TheConflictsCounselProgramallowedtheCourttocoordinateprimarilywithoneattorney,asopposedtodozens,forappointmentandpaymentoncaseswithconflicts.Iwillcontinuetomonitorandsupportthis program in the years to come.In the civil context, the Judiciary currently provides assistance to the indigent in the family court division. ThisDivisionhasaprosecenterwhichprovidesuser-friendlyserviceforself-representedlitigants.Theprosecenterprovidesinformationaboutfilingprocedures,casestatus,hearingdates,anddeadlinesas well as offering pleading forms and hands on assistance to litigants. I expect to work closely with the SuperiorCourtandtheBarAssociationtoimproveprobonorepresentationofindigentpersons,throughsuchmeansasself-helplegalcenters,additionalproseclinics,andotherrelatedprograms.
Continue to Invest in Our Children
Wemustcontinuetoinvestinourchildrenthroughouttheirdevelopment.Forstudentsingrades1-12,theJudiciarywillcontinueprovidinganintroductiontotheroleofthecourtsinmaintainingastableso-cietybasedupontheruleoflaw.Asthoseyouthsmatureandexpressaninterestinlaw,wewillcontinuetoprovideourpre-lawprogramto set them on a path toward the successful completion of undergraduate and law school studies.Andwhentheycompletetheirstudies,wewillwelcomethemhomewithopenarmssothattheycangivebacktotheCommonwealthasadults.
NMI JudIcIary2
Messages from Chief Justice
Alexandro C. Castro
aNNual report 2012
Chief Justice Alexandro C. Castro delivered a number of speeches in 2012. The following excerpts from his speeches provide a glimpse of what his plans are for the Judiciary in the coming years.
2. Robert C. NarajaPresidingJudgeMarch28,2003toPresent
AssociateJudgeNovember20,2001toMarch27,2003
Justices and Judges
3. Alexandro C. CastroChief JusticeOctober11,2012toPresent
ActingChiefJusticeOctober1,2011toOctober11,2012
AssociateJusticeJuly10,1998toSeptember30,2011
PresidingJudge,Superior Court February23,1993toJuly9,1998
AssociateJudgeMay15,1989toFebruary22,1993
4. John A. ManglonaAssociateJusticeMay9,2000toPresent
Designated JusticeGuamSupremeCourt1999-2003
AssociateJudgeJuly9,1998toMay8,2000
6. David A. WisemanAssociateJudgeMarch14,2001toPresent
Special JudgeSeptember22,1995toMarch13,2001
7. Joseph N. CamachoAssociateJudgeNovember10,2011toPresent
1. Perry B. InosAssociateJudgeSeptember22,2008toPresent
5. Kenneth L. GovendoAssociateJudgeJune20,2003toPresent
1
2 3 4 5
67
NMI JudIcIary 3aNNual report 2012
NMI JudIcIary4 aNNual report 2012
Investiture
Chief Justice Alexandro C. Castro
On September 13, 2012, Acting Chief Justice Alexandro C. Castro was nominated by Governor Benigno R. Fitial to become the Commonwealth’s fourth chief justice. Justice Castro served as the Acting Chief Justice following the retirement of Chief Justice Miguel S. Demapan in September 2011. The Acting Chief Justice appeared before the Senate’s Committee on Executive Appointment and Government Investigation on Oc-tober 10, 2012. Following the Committee’s recommendation, the full Senate voted unanimously to confirm Justice Castro as the Chief Justice. He was duly commissioned that same day, October 11, 2012, following Governor Fitial’s administration of the oath of office. Before his ascension to the Supreme Court bench on July 9, 1998, Justice Castro served the People of the Commonwealth as Superior Court Presiding Judge (1993-1998); Superior Court Associate Judge (1989-1993); and CNMI Attorney General (1986- 1989).
An investiture ceremony for Chief Justice Castro was held on Friday, October 26, 2012, in the Supreme Court Courtroom. In attendance were the governor, judges and justices from Guam and the Western Pa-cific, the leadership of the CNMI House and Senate, the Washington representative, family, friends and members of the judiciary’s staff.
Judge Inos, Justice Manglona and Chief Justice Castro at the legislative confirmation hearing
(Oct. 10, 2012).
Judge Govendo and Guam Superior Court Presiding Judge Alberto C. Lamorena III at the
reception.
Post confirmation congratulations from Senate President Paul A. Manglona.
Supreme Court
Superior Court
Law Revision Commission
NMI JudIcIary 5
Reports
aNNual report 2012
Supreme Court
NMI JudIcIary6 aNNual report 2012
Number of Opinions Issued
The Supreme Court, the highest court in the Commonwealth,wascreatedin1989tohearappealsfromfinaljudgmentsandordersoftheSuperiorCourt.AllappealsfromtheNMISupremeCourt go directly to the United States Supreme Courtasof2004.
The Court consists of a chief justice who also serves as the head of the Judiciary and two associate justices appoint-edforeight(8)yearterms.TheCourtisassistedbytheserviceofactivejudgesoftheSuperiorCourt,retiredjudges,andjusticesfromtheneighboringisland of Guam who serve as designated JusticesProTemtofillvacanciesontheCourtcausedbydisqualificationsorotherabsencesofthejustices.
In addition, to their judicial functions, the justices provide practical information and opportunitiesforpositiveinteractionsbe-tweenthecommunityandrole-playersinthelegalsystembyengagingincommunityoutreach programs, such as The Law and the FreshmanLegislators,WeThePeople,andMockTrial.Additionally,thejusticesvisittheislands’ schools to speak to the students as part of the Judges in the Classroom program.
201 2 21
2 0 1 1 19
2010 21
2009 21
2008 22
aNNual report 2012
The Judiciary’s Total Budget Allocation peaked infiscal year 1999. Its Full TimeEmployeeEquivalentCeiling(FTE)peakedin2003.Therehavesincebeensubstantial declines inboth the judiciary’spersonnelandoperationsbudgetallocations.
“Despite these de-clines, the judiciary continues its effort to strengthen its
ability to ensure the fair and impartial administration of
justice.”
Alexandro C. Castro Chief Justice
NMI JudIcIary 7
The Judiciary Budget
CNMI Judiciary Appropriation
Reduction Analysis
Shaded areas represent peaks in expenditures or numberForty-five percent reduction in full-time employee ceiling number 2012 vs. 1999
Thirty- two percent reduction in overall expenditures 2012 vs. 1999.
(Source: CNMI P.L. 17-55)
Fiscal Year 2013Total CNMI Budget Appropriation
$104.966 million
Total Judiciary Budget Appropriation$4,000,000
-53 -45%
-32%
Superior Court
The Office of the Clerk of Court performs a myriadofdetailedresponsibilitiesinsupportofthe Superior Court’s constitutional function. It maintainstheofficialrecordsfortheentireSuperi-orCourtandistheofficialrecorderofdocumentsforfilingsandappeals.TheOfficeisalsoresponsibleforprocessingtrafficclearances,traffichistories,criminalclear-ances,benchwarrants,aswellasthecopyinganddistributionofrelated court documents.
TheOfficeoftheClerkofCourtisthelargestdivisionoftheSupe-rior Court and maintains a staff of fourteen, with one on Rota and oneonTinian.Allcivil,criminal,family,andsmallclaimscasesandagencyappealsareinitiated,maintained,anddisposedofbytheOfficeoftheClerkofCourt.Itistaskedwiththeprocessingofdatalogs,custodianship,andmaintainscertificationstandardsofalldocumentslodgedorfiled,andprovidesthepersonneltoover-see hearings and courtroom management in the Commonwealth’s seven courtrooms.
Dep.ClerkSabrinaLynnDelaCruz
Deputy Clerk Kristy N. Diaz
Dep. Clerk George M. Lisua
Dep. Clerk Luis S. Villagomez
NMI JudIcIary8 aNNual report 2012
PresidingJudgeRobertC. Naraja ad-ministers the oathofofficeto Margarita D. Hofsch-neider, Depu-ty Clerk, Tinian.
NMI JudIcIary 9
Superior CourtStatistics
aNNual report 2012
250
300
350
200
150
100
50
2008
248 247 230
314
239
Criminal Cases
2009 2010 2011 20120
100
800
600
400
200
2008
761653
976929
602
Small Claims
2009 2010 2011 20120
4000
2000
2500
3000
3500
1500
1000
500
2008
2458 2321 2422
3743
2103
Traffic
2009 2010 2011 20120
2008 485 248 776 761 2458 47282009 531 247 751 653 2321 45032010 368 230 657 976 2422 46532 0 1 1 352 314 647 929 3743 59852012 314 240 614 602 2103 3873Total 2050 1279 3445 3921 13047 23742
YearCivil
CasesCriminal
CasesFamily Court Cases
Small Claims Cases
Traffic Cases TOTAL
http://www.justice.gov.mp
600
500
400
300
200
100
2008
485531
368 352314
Civil Cases
2009 2010 2011 20120
500
600
700
800
400
300
200
100
2008
776 751
657 647 614
Family Court
2009 2010 2011 20120
Customer Service Center
Number of Cases Filed in the Superior Court 2008 – 2012
Family CourtDivision
NMI JudIcIary10
NikitaE.M.Cabrera
PRO SE SERVICES. User-friendly ser-vicesforself-representedcommonlyreferredto as “pro se” litigants are an ongoing focus of theFamilyCourtDivision.AproseresourcecenterisavailableandenhancedbytheFCDstaff’s proactive approach to assisting clients one-on-one.
TheFamilyCourtDivisionwasestablishedwithintheSuperiorCourtandisresponsibleforfamilylegal matters, including adoption proceedings, child support, divorce, paternity, domestic violence, child abuse,andjuveniledelinquency.
aNNual report 2012
• Pro Se Center• Child Support
• Separating Parents Program
• Mediation• Temporary
Restraining Orders
Correction of Birth Certificate
NMI JudIcIary 11
Office of Adult Probation
Twelfth Annual Probation, Parole and Community
Supervision Week Proclamation Signing
July, 2012
Precedingaweekofactivities, theworkandaccomplishmentsof theprobation,paroleandcommunitycorrectionspersonnelwereacknowledgedduringaceremonyonJuly12,2012intheCNMISupremeCourtCourtroom.SigningtheproclamationwereActingChiefJusticeAlexandroC.CastroandLieutenantGovernorEloyS.Inos.
Picturedattheproclamationsigning ceremony are Repre-sentativeEdmundVillagomezandOfficeofAdultProbationChiefUrsulaI.Lifoifoi-Aldan
Left:Exhibitson display in the Guma’ Hustisia
LefttorightwithChiefProbationOfficerLifoifoi-AldanareprobationofficersJoseL.Mafnas,OscarC.Torres,ShirleyCamacho-OgumoroandAssistantProbationOfficerPrisilliaS.Cabrera.
aNNual report 2012
Probation Case Management
Office of Adult Probation 2012 Annual Report
NMI JudIcIary12 aNNual report 2012
Caseload Management
http://www.justice.gov.mp
NMI JudIcIary 13aNNual report 2012
Commonwealth Law Revision Commission The Commonwealth Law Revision Commission, part oftheJudicialBranch,isresponsibleforcompiling,ed-iting and codifying the laws of the Commonwealth into an organizedsystemwiththemissionofmakingthemavailabletothepublic.TheCommissioncarriesoutitsstatutoryresponsi-bilitiesbypublishingthestatutesfromthelegislature,opinionsfromthejudiciaryandregulationsfromtheexecutiveintothreemajorlegalpublications:theNorthernMarianaIslands Commonwealth Code, the Northern Mariana Islands Reporter series and the NorthernMarianaIslandsAdministrativeCode.Certainlawsarealsoavailableon-line. The Commission is composed of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court; the chair of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Government and Law; the chair of the House CommitteeonJudiciaryandGovernmentalOperations;theAttorneyGeneral;andamemberoftheCommonwealthBarAssociation.TheChiefJusticeistheChairpersonoftheCommission.TheCommission’sday-to-dayoperationsarecarriedoutbyitsExecu-tive Director and staff.
TheCommissionalsoprovidesfreeandtimelyaccesstotheCNMIConstitution,publicand local laws, judicial opinions, court rules, and other related general information over itsinternetwebsiteathttp://www.cnmilaw.org.
Commission staff from left to right: Janet H. King, Staff Attorney,HeatherL.Kennedy,ExecutiveDirector,AlbertA.Hicking,WebsiteOfficeManager LRCExecutiveDirectorHeather
Kennedy explains to visitors the purpose and goals of the Law Revi-sion Commission. The Commis-sion conducts several workshops throughout the year.
CNMICode2010
Marshal Service Division
Marshal Service Division Unit Training
• US Marshal Procedures• Court Security• Handguns marksmanship
Handgun Certification RecognitionFrom left to right: Judge Joseph N. Camacho, Chief Justice AlexandroC.Castro,ChiefMarshalAnthonyP.Benavente,Firearm Instructor David M. Hosono, Deputy Commission-er/RangeMasterAmbrosioT.Ogumoro,DeputyMarshalI Benusto M. Lisua, Deputy Marshal III Jesus S. Santos, Deputy Marshal Cindy D. Serrano, and Deputy Marshal II JuanKAtalig.Notpictured,RotaDeputyMarshalAnthonyA.Atalig,whowasalsohandguncertified.
Chief Marshal AnthonyP.Benavente
MarshalsJuanK.AtaligandAnthonyA.Ataligcompare
markmanship results.
MarshalsCindy D Serrano,Joseph M. Ogo Jr.,AntoinetteMarieB.Pajarillo,andBenusto M. Lisua
Havingbeenestablishedasafullyrecognizedlawenforcementunitunder1CMC§§3901-3902,theMarshalServiceDivision(MSD)oftheJudiciaryrelievedtheDepartmentofPublicSafetyofthebur-denofdeliveringjurysummonsesandothercourtprocesses.Itisalsoresponsiblefortheprotectionofjustices, judges, court staff and patrons of the judiciary. TheDivision’sskilldevelopmentactivitiesduringtheyearincludedattendanceatafour-daytrainingsymposiumonUSMarshalProceduresandCourtSecurity,sponsoredbythePacificJudicialCounciland held under auspices of the US District Court of Guam. TheDivisionmembersalsocompletedahandgunsmarksmanshipcourseconductedbytheDepart-mentofPublicSafety.
In2012, theMarshalServiceDivisionpro-cured a new vehicle for use in the service of jury summons and other court processes.
NMI JudIcIary14 aNNual report 2012
NMI JudIcIary 15aNNual report 2012
Community Outreach
& Education
Law Week
Law Day Essay & Poster Contest
We The People
AG’s Cup Competition
Judges in the Classroom
Mock Trial Competition
Judiciary Guests on Radio
NMI JudIcIary16
Judiciary legal staff, including justices and judges, were involved in a broad range of 2012 Law Day activities the theme for which was “No Courts, No Justice, No Freedom.” The events included both Junior High and Senior High School Mock Trial competitions, the 2nd Annual Law Day Poster and Essay Contest, prepara-tions for the “We the People” nationals in Washington D.C., and the 28th Annual Attorney Generals’ Cup held in the CNMI Supreme Court Courtroom. Additionally, justices, judges and members of the CNMI Bar Association visited classrooms providing students with an interactive learning opportunity.
The week’s events began when representatives from the Commonwealth Courts, the U.S. District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands, and the NMI Bar Association signed the Law Week Proclamation.
LAw week 2012
Community Outreach & education
“We will reflect upon and celebrate the role that an inde-pendent judiciary serves in ensuring justice and protecting our fundamental freedoms.”
Acting Chief Justice Alexandro C. Castro, Law Day 2012
WE thE PEOPLE contestants from Saipan Southern high School.
Poster and Essay Contest Winners with family and teachers.
Presiding Judge Robert C. Naraja and Law Clerk Sean Smith take the Judges in the Classroom program to Rota.
aNNual report 2012
NMI JudIcIary 17aNNual report 2012
Winners of the Law Day poster and essay contests were recognized and received awards and prizes on May 1, 2012. This year numerous essays and posters on the Law Day theme, written and produced by fifth and sixth grade private and public school students, were exhibited at the CNMI Judiciary. From left to right: Marcy Ermitanio, winner - best Law Day essay, Supreme Court Clerk of Court Jennifer Dock-ter, Ma Chrizelle Omotoy, winner - best Law Day poster and Superior Clerk of Court Bernie A. Sablan
WE THE PEOPLESaipan Southern High School students were the winners of the local “We the People” competi-tion. Supreme Court Justice John Manglona and judiciary law clerks Charlotte Sanders and Deanna Manglona contributed their time and efforts as coaches during the local competition and helped the Commonwealth’s team prepare for the national “We the People” competition, held in Washington, D.C. in May 2012.
AG’s CUP SPEECH COMPETITIONOn May 3, the annual Attorney Generals’ Cup Speech Competition was held in the CNMI Supreme Court Courtroom. Students gave speeches on law and gov-ernment in the CNMI. Pictured with trophy is Victoria Camacho.
LAw DAY POSTeR AND eSSAY CONTeST wINNeRS ReCOGNIZeD
Community Outreach & education
NMI JudIcIary18
Throughout the course of Law Week and into the month of May justices, judges and members of the CNMI Bar Association visited schools on Saipan, Rota, and Tinian. They spoke on the theme of “Courts, Justice and Free-dom,” and answered the students’ questions on a wide variety of subjects.
MOCK TRIAL COMPETITION
Community Outreach & education
Mount Carmel School (MCS) prevailed over Marianas Bap-tist Academy in the annual High School Mock Trial Competition. MCS represented the Northern Marianas at the national com-petition held in Albuquerque, New Mexico in May 2012.
aNNual report 2012
Judiciary Guests On Your Humanities’ Half—Hour Radio
Former Judge Timothy Bellas, Acting Chief Justice Alexandro C. Castro, Justice John A. Manglona and “We the People” student coach Carmen Borja with host, Catherine Perry.)
JUDGeS IN THe CLASSROOM
ActingChiefJusticeAlexandroC.CastroandJustice JohnA. Manglona, accompanied byformerjudgeTimothyBellasand“WethePeo-ple” student coach Carmen Borja, taped an edition of the radio program Your Humanities’ Half-Hour,hostedbyCatherinePerry for theNorthern Mariana Islands Council for the Hu-manities.TheshowwasbeheardonPower99Sunday,April29th,andavailablethereafterforreplayfromtheJudiciary’swebsite.
During the program, the group discussed a va-riety of community outreach and education ef-forts involving the judiciary and its facilities, in-cludingthe“WethePeople”competition,LawDayPosterandEssaysContestsforelemen-tary schools, and the Judges in the Classroom program.
NMI JudIcIary 19aNNual report 2012
Transitions
Clerks of Courts
Attorney Admissions
Farewells
NMI JudIcIary20 aNNual report 2012
Deanna M. Manglona Clerk of the Supreme Court
Patrick V. Diaz Clerk of the Superior Court
ChiefJusticeAlexandroC.CastroappointedDeannaM.ManglonatothepositionofClerkofCourtoftheCommonwealthSupremeCourteffectiveOctober22,2012.TheClerkofCourtisresponsibleforthereceiptofallappellatefilingsaswellasthedailyoperationsoftheClerkofCourt’sOffice. Priortoherappointment,Ms.ManglonaservedasthelawclerkforAssociateJudgeKennethL.Govendosince2010.Ms.ManglonaearnedherJurisDoctorfromThomasM.CooleyLawSchoolinLansing,Michi-gan.
OnNovember18,2012.presidingJudgeRobertC.NarajaappointedPatrickVillagomezDiaztothepositionofClerkofCourtoftheCommonwealthSuperiorCourt,apositionresponsibleforthemanagementofthetrialcourt’scaseflowprocessesandthedailyoperationsoftheOfficeoftheClerkofCourtonRota,Saipan,and Tinian. DiazjoinedtheCNMIJudiciaryin1997astheFamilyCourtCoordinatorfortheFamilyCourtDivisionoftheSuperiorCourt.SinceNovember1994uptohisrecentappointment,heservedas theFamilyCourtManagerandunderhisleadershiptheFamilyCourtDivisionwashonoredbytheNationalCriminalJusticeAssociation(NCJA)astherecipientofthe2010NationalJusticeAssociationOutstandingJusticeProgramAwardfor“bestpractice”evidencebasedprogram.
“I am elated to appoint Deanna Manglona as the Clerk of Court. She has the profes-sionalism and qualifications necessary for the office.“
Chief Justice Castro
Superior Clerk of Court Patrick V. Diaz, Presiding Judge Robert C. Naraja and Special Assistant to the Presiding Judge Sonia A. Camacho at Diaz’s oath ceremony.
Clerks of Courts
NMI JudIcIary 21aNNual report 2012
Pictured: in the front row from left to right: Sean E. Frink, President, CNMI Bar Association, James D. Livingstone, Jacinta Matagolai Kaipat, Jennifer Dockter, Fredrick B. Hayes, Jr.
Top row from left to right: Ramona V. Manglona, Chief Judge, U.S. District Court, NMI, Associate Judge Kenneth L. Gavendo, Acting Chief Justice Alexandro C. Castro, Associate Justice John A. Manglona, Associate Judge Perry B. Inos, Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho.
TheCNMIJudiciaryheldanAttorneyAdmissionsCeremonyFriday,October5,2012,intheCom-monwealthSupremeCourtattheGuma’Hustisia–IimwalAweewe–HouseofJustice.Thecer-emonywasopenedwith remarks by theHonorableAlexandroC.Castro,ActingChief Justice.TheHonorableRamonaV.Manglona,ChiefJudge,U.S.DistrictCourt,NMIdeliveredthekeynotespeech.
SeanE.Frink,CNMIBarAssociationPresident,presentedtotheJudiciarythesuccessfulappli-cantswhohadrecentlypassedtherequiredexaminationstopracticelawintheCommonwealthandwerethereforeeligibleforadmissiontotheCommonwealthoftheNorthernMarianaIslandBarAssociation.
Attorney Admissions Ceremonies
The CNMI Bar Association attorney admis-sions ceremony followed the proclamation signing in the Supreme Court Courtroom. Pictured with their admissions certificates are Russell Lorfing and Tiberius Mocanu with Clerk of Court Jennifer Dockter.
Attorney AdmissionsMay 2012 Ceremony
October 2012 Ceremony
NMI JudIcIary22 aNNual report 2012
Deputy Clerk III Theodora S. Decena Retires from the JudiciaryTheodora S. Decena, Deputy Clerk III, CNMI Su-periorCourtretiredonMarch9th,2012.Hercareerwith the CNMI Judiciary spanned over nineteen years.BeginningwiththejudiciaryinFebruaryof1993asaDeputyClerk1intheSuperiorCourt’sClerk of Court’s office, sheworked closely withthen Judge John Manglona, Judge Virginia Oner-heim,andJudgeDavidWisemanatatimewhenJudgeManibusanwasthepresidingjudge.
Bernadita A. Sablan, Clerk of the Superior Court,
Retires OnOctober12,2012,BernaditaA.Sablancon-cludedtwenty-fiveyearsofservicewiththeCNMISuperiorCourt.HercareerwiththeJudiciarybe-ganin1986asaDeputyClerkIIandculminatedwith nearly seven years in the important leader-ship position of Clerk of the Superior Court. She served under Presiding Judges Robert Hefner,PedroAtalig,AlexandroC.Castro,EdwardMani-busanandRobertC.Naraja.
Judiciary bids farewell to Jennifer Dockter, Clerk of the Supreme Court ColleaguesofClerkof theSupremeCourtJenniferDockter,bidafarewell to Ms. Dockter who had held two positions on the NMI Judi-ciarystaff,withastintinbetweenthosewiththeAttorneyGeneral’soffice.Celebratingfondmemoriesoftheirassociationoverafare-well luncheon,AssociateJudgeDavidA.Wisemanreflectedbacktothetimein2008whenheinterviewedJennifer,freshoutoflawschool,forajobashislawclerk.Jenniferexpressedhowsincerelyhappy she was to have decided to come to Saipan.
Farewells
NMI JudIcIary 23aNNual report 2012
FormerChiefJusticeMiguelS.DemapanpassedawayonJune30,2012,andwashonoredwithamemo-rialserviceintheCNMISupremeCourtCourtroomonJuly6th.ActingChiefJusticeAlexandroC.Castrosaid,“ChiefJusticeDemapanwasacompassionateanddedicatedpublicservantwhocaredverydeeplyforthecommunityandwascommittedtothecauseofjusticeintheCommonwealthandthroughoutourPacificregion.Hewasnotonlyacolleaguebutwasmykompaire.IamextremelyproudtohaveservedwithChiefJustice Demapan.” FormerChiefJusticeDemapanjoinedthejudiciaryinNovember1992andservedtheCommonwealthforalmost two decades, including twelve years as the Chief Justice. DemapanwasbornandraisedonSaipaninafamilyofninechildren.HegraduatedfromMarianasHighSchool, earned his Bachelor of Science from Seattle University and received his Juris Doctor from Santa ClaraUniversityinCaliforniain1985.
“Former Chief Justice Demapan was a leader who advocated for the in-dependence of the judiciary and who oversaw many positive changes dur-ing his tenure as Chief Justice.”
Associate Justice John A. Manglona
In Memoriam
Mrs. Frances T. Demapan family and government officials gather in the Supreme Court to honor the memory of Chief Justice Demapan.
The Demapan family: Michael, Soledad, Franny, Michaela, Patrick and Dolores.
NMI JudIcIary24 aNNual report 2012
Chief Marshal Anthony Benavente expressed his own sense of loss of a friend and very valuable co-worker, his “go-to-man in many instances.”
Memorial services were held in the CNMI Supreme CourtCourtroomTuesday,June26thforDeputyMarshal Manuel Q. Tenorio, who passed away on June20thofnaturalcausesat theageof thirty-four. The courtroom was filled with membersof his family, his friends, the Justices, Judges and staff of the CNMI Judiciary, Department of PublicSafetyofficers,and theHonorableJudgeRamona V. Manglona, representing the United States District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands. The ceremony involved the presentation ofDeputyMarshalTenorio’suniformandbadgestohisfamilyforuseinthefuneralandburial.
CrispinMatagolai Kaipat, who passed away in 2012, had been the Clerk of the SupremeCourtforChiefJusticesMartyWKTaylorandMiguelS.Demapanfrom1996to2006. Inaddition tohisdedication and hard work, “Cris” was known for his “signature” smile, laughter, jokes, and Olomwaay voicewhichbroughtlifetotheCourt’sfunctions.AtaeulogyforCris,deliveredatMt.CarmelChurch,thenActingChiefJusticeCastrospokeouttohisspecialfriend,saying:“Cris,thankyousomuchfortheservicesyouhaverenderedtoourPeopleasClerkofCourtofourSupremeCourt.Pleaseprayforusaswecontinuetopaddleourcanoesintotheunchartedwatersof tomorrow.”
In Memoriam
Picture (L-R) Jane Mack of
Micronesian Legal Services,
Cris Kaipat, Senior Circuit
Judge Mary Schroeder of
the U.S. Court of Appeals for
the 9th Circuit, Cinta Kaipat
(sister of Cris).
NMI JudIcIary 25aNNual report 2012
Michael Villacrusis, Information Technology Systems Manager, CNMI Judiciary, presents lecture on Windows 7.
Maisie B. Tenorio, Executive Director, Northern Marianas Co-alition against Domestic & Sexual Violence, discusses a point with Director of Courts Tracy M. Guerrero during her lecture on Sexual Harassment before staff of the CNMI Judiciary.
Director of Courts Tracy M. Guerrero, covers Micro-soft Excel during a session of the CNMI Judiciary’s Profes-sional Development Program
TheJudiciaryembarkedonaProfessionalDevelopmentprogramforitsnon-judgepersonneltoenhancecomputer skills and to provide refresher courses in general court rules, enhanced customer service tech-niquesandstressmanagement.
The Judiciary’s Information and Technology Systems Manager, Michael C. Villacrusis, taught classes on MicrosoftWindows7,DirectorofCourtTracyGuerreroandAssociateJusticeJohnA.ManglonaledpopularsessionsonExcel,MicrosoftWordandPowerPoint.Theskillenhancementclassesconductedweeklyattractedmoremembersof thestaff aswordspreadaboutthetraining’sbenefits.
InlateNovemberMaisieB.Tenorio,ExecutiveDirectoroftheNorthernMarianasCoalitionAgainstDomestic&SexualViolencegaveawell-receivedpresentationonSexualHarassmentPolicyandisexpectedbackagaininJanuary2013forthesecondsession.
Professional Development workshops
NMI JudIcIary26 aNNual report 2012
PublicInformationOfficerJimStowell ready with the Historical Society’s camera to capture the people and events of the Judiciary.
DeannaM.Manglona,ClerkoftheSupremeCourt,standsbeforetheexpandingcollectionofLawDayPosterandEssayCompetitionwinningcompetitions.ThedisplaypresentedbytheNorthernMarianasJudiciaryHistoricalSociety,isavailableforviewingattheentrancetothecourt’sadministrationoffices.
Northern Marianas Judiciary Historical Society
Since its inception in 2004 the Northern Marianas JudiciaryHistorical Society has played an important role in the preservation of the Judiciary’s history and numerous community outreach programs.In2011theSocietyprintedthebook,The Northern Marianas Islands Judiciary – a Historical Prospective, which its memberswereinstrumentalinbringingtofruition.Effortsin2012weremadetoinsurethebookwaswidelydistributedaroundthePacificandbacktotheforty-eightcontiguousstates.
To better capture in pictures the events and people of theJudiciary,theSocietyin2012purchasedahighqualitycamerafor the court’s exclusive use. The camera’s product has greatly enrichedstoriessenttothemediaaboutthejudiciaryandwasused to take the majority of the pictures for this annual report.
TheNorthernMarianasJudiciaryHistoricalSocietycontributedtotheMockTrialAwardsCeremony,theAttorneyGenerals’CupCompetition, several ceremonies held within the Guma’ Hustisia andtothePosterandEssayContest,providingcashincentivesto young artists and writers.
NMI JudIcIary 27aNNual report 2012
Judiciary Staff
OffICe Of the CLeRK Of the SuPeRIOR COuRtPatrickV.Diaz ClerkofCourtRoxanneM.Weaver DeputyClerkIIKristy N. Diaz Deputy Clerk ILuis S. Villagomez Deputy Clerk IDaisy S. Mendiola Deputy Clerk IIGeorge M. Lisua Deputy Clerk IRosieJaneT.Ada DeputyClerkISabrinaLynnDelaCruz DeputyClerkIDelia S. Magofna Deputy Clerk IGlenL.Maratita DeputyClerkI(Rota)MargaritaD.Hofschneider DeputyClerkI(Tinian)EvaP.Calvo RecordsTechnicianAdelphaLynnN.I.Kapileo RecordsTechnician fAMILy COuRt DIvISIONNikitaE.M.Cabrera ProjectAssistant COMMONWeALth ReCORDeR’S OffICeLuise S. Deleon Guerrero Commonwealth RecorderMichelleL.Atalig AdministrativeAssistant(Rota) OffICe Of ADuLt PROBAtIONUrsulaI.Lifoifoi-Aldan ChiefProbationOfficerSimramD.Simram ProbationOfficerIIIJuanR.Aguon ProbationOfficerIIShirleyCamacho-Ogumoro ProbationOfficerIIOscarC.Torres ProbationOfficerIJoseL.Mafnas ProbationOfficerIJohnPeterD.DelRasario ProbationOfficerIPrisilliaS.Cabrera AssistantProbationOfficerBarbaraK.Santos ProbationClerkIII LAW RevISION COMMISSIONHeatherL.Kennedy ExecutiveDirectorJanetH.King StaffAttorneyAlbertA.Hicking ExecutiveAssistant
December 31, 2012
SuPReMe COuRt Deanna M. Manglona Clerk of CourtJeffreyB.El-Hajj LawClerkSean J. Lowe Law ClerkJordan C. Sundell Law ClerkNoraV.Borja JudicialAssistantIreneT.SanNicolas JudicialAssistantMarthaB.Mendiola JudicialAssistant SuPeRIOR COuRtSoniaA.Camacho SpecialAssistanttothePresiding Judge; Deputy Director of Courts SeanE.Smith LawClerkEdenL.Schwartz LawClerkCindyA.Nesbit LawClerkCharity R. Hodson Law ClerkJames M. Zarones Law ClerkRoseLynetteM.Camacho JudicialAssistantVivianS.DelaCruz JudicialAssistantIgnatiaC.Aldan JudicialAssistantRebeccaR.Santos JudicialAssistantJolynnA.DeleonGuerrero JudicialAssistantEvelynP.Calvo AccountantIIJasonD.Kelley AccountClerkII JuDICIARy ADMINIStRAtIve OffICeTracy M. Guerrero Director of CourtsMichaelC.Villacrusis SystemsAdministratorGeneE.Weaver BuildingSuperintendentMichelleV.Guerrero HumanResourcesAdministratorJimW.Stowell PublicInformationOfficerJohnJ.Demapan ComputerSpecialist1StevenS.Cabrerra AdministrativeAssistantRaymondC.Babauta MaintenanceAnthonyP.Benavente ChiefMarshalJesus S. Santos Deputy Marshal III JuanE.K.Atalig DeputyMarshalIICindy D. Serrano Deputy Marshal IBenusto M. Lisua Deputy Marshal IAnthonyA.Atalg DeputyMarshalIAntoinetteMarieB.Pajarillo DeputyMarshalIJoseph M. Ogo Jr. Deputy Marshal I
Traditional seasonal celebrations offer the opportunity for team building ex-changes, recognition and the enjoyment of shared food and entertainment.
Capturing Seasonal Celebrations
NMI JudIcIary28 aNNual report 2012
P.O. Box 502165 Saipan, MP 96950 Tel: (670) 236-9700 Superior Court (670)236-9800 Supreme Court
Email: [email protected]
www.justice.gov.mp