Camacho takes his oath in Carolinian-a first

 Gov. Benigno R. Fitial administered yesterday the oath of office for new Superior Court judge Joseph James Norita Camacho in the Carolinian language-the first time it has been done in the CNMI Judiciary.

The choice to use Carolinian for the swearing-in was to honor Camacho’s Carolinian mother, Marcella Lieto Norita Camacho, who lost her fight against cancer three years ago.

Camacho, 42, is the first judge of Carolinian descent to be elevated to the CNMI Courts.

Camacho’s father, Vicente Tudela Camacho, a Chamorro, passed away 11 years ago.

Fitial, who also served as keynote speaker during the investiture ceremony, said that soon after then associate judge Ramona V. Manglona was confirmed to serve as chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the NMI, he instantaneously felt that Camacho would be the perfect fit to fill the vacancy at the Superior Court.

“He holds an upstanding professional record and distinguished accomplishments that I strongly believe would serve as an immense contribution to our judicial branch,” Fitial said.

The governor said he believes that Camacho’s addition to the Judiciary will greatly help the courts.

“I am very pleased that one of our own native sons, one who has worked so hard to attain a high level of education away from our shores, now stands ready to contribute his legal acumen, vast experience, and considerable talents to a position of great importance to the people of this blessed Commonwealth,” Fitial said.

In his emotional speech, Camacho dedicated the ceremony to his late mother.

“Mom always had a way with words,” said Camacho, remembering that as young children their mother would always encourage them to attend school. “She would say, ‘You work hard at school or you work hard for the rest of your life.’”

Another one of her favorite sayings was: “Pride is a great thing but carried too far it just becomes foolish. It’s best to do the right thing and let others be proud of you.”

The judge said these are words that continue to guide him today.

Camacho said that when his wife, attorney Viola Alepuyo, was pregnant with their son and he was going to be a father for the first time, his mother told him, “The greatest gift a man can give his children is to love their mother.”

Camacho said his mother passed away three years ago.

“I just want to say that I miss you mom, and, today is your day,” the judge said.

Chief Deputy Attorney General of Guam Philip J. Tydingco, who served as presenter for Camacho, said he first came to know Camacho some eight or nine years ago when he (Tydingco) was an assistant attorney general and senior prosecutor with the CNMI’s Office of the Attorney’s Criminal Division.

“As an aside, back then and even now through the years, Judge Camacho was and has always continued to have a very neat and organized office,” Tydingco said.

Tydingco got to know Camacho not only professionally but also personally. “Our families have remained close friends since then,” he said.

Tydingco said the position of a judge requires that he possess the qualities of patience, wisdom, courage firmness, alertness, incorruptibility and the gifts of sympathy and insight. “Judge Camacho has all these qualities. Indeed, they make up his character,” he said.

Associate justice Alexandro Castro delivered the welcoming remarks.

Camacho’s family members, numerous relatives and friends, former teachers, and co-workers attended the ceremony.

The Supreme Court was packed with present and retired judges, guests, government officials, as well as dignitaries from Guam, Palau, the Philippines, and Japan.

His first assignment as judge will be to handle the Rota civil docket, small claims, and his share of criminal and civil cases.