commonwealth judiciary - 2012 annual report

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 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


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

http://www.cnmilaw.org/judiciarybranch.html

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


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

http://www.justice.gov.mp/supplemental.aspx

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


Caseload Management

http://www.justice.gov.mp

http://www.justice.gov.mp/documents/2012%20OAP%20ANNUAL%20REPORT.pdf

http://www.justice.gov.mp/supplemental.aspx


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.



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


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


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


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.


Transitions

Clerks of Courts

Attorney Admissions

Farewells


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


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


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


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.


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).


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


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.


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


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commonwealth judiciary - 2012 annual report

Documents

chief justice alexandro

chief justice3 justices

family court division

court personnel

court february23

castroannual report

indigent parties

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