Manglona says district court will hold community outreach activities

U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona yesterday announced that the district court will conduct for the first time this year its own community outreach activities in celebration of Law Day.

Manglona made the announcement in her brief remarks during a Law Day proclamation signing ceremony at the CNMI Supreme Court courtroom.

“Today [Thursday] marks the 20th anniversary of the Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day program. On Monday, May 7, we will celebrate Law Day with our own Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day at the District Court,” Manglona said.

The chief judge said that day the district court courthouse will be opened to the children of the court staff and other federal agencies to meet the people who work in these government agencies, and to learn about the purpose and roles they play in the federal justice system.

“We will highlight this occasion with a naturalization ceremony in which we will welcome our newest United States citizens to the American family,” she said.

On the proclamation signing, Manglona said she believes it is their mutual interest to spread the word about Law Day and the significance of the courts in maintaining the rule of law.

Manglona thanked the CNMI Judiciary for including the NMI District Court in its community outreach activities, in which she and her two law clerks will be participating in the “judges and lawyers in the courtrooms” program.

Manglona said this year’s Law Day Theme “No Courts, No Justice, No Freedom,” is so important to the courts and more so to the rule of law.

The theme, the chief judge said, succinctly ties the relationship of the courts to the two fundamental values in any civilized and developed community, justice and freedom.

“The challenges that the state courts are facing in these harsh financial times are not limited to the state courts. Nevertheless, the courthouses must remain open to the people who are in need of protection of their rights,” Manglona said.

Manglona joined acting CNMI Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexandro C. Castro, Superior Court presiding judge Robert C. Naraja, and associate judges David A. Wiseman, Perry B. Inos, and Kenneth L. Govendo in signing a proclamation declaring May 1, 2012 as Law Day. Associate justice John A. Manglona and associate judge Joseph N. Camacho are off-island.

In reading the proclamation, presiding judge Naraja said this year’s theme highlights the crucial role of an independent judiciary in the CNMI and the nations.

Naraja said May 1, 2012 marks the 23rd anniversary of the CNMI Supreme Court, “which continues to maintain a judicial excellence and integrity.”

In his opening remarks, acting chief justice Castro said as the elected leaders work tirelessly to address the economic situation, the Judiciary and the legal community “take pride in carrying the torch for this year’s Law Day and its theme: No Courts, No Justice, No Freedom.”

Castro said it is interesting to note that Law Day, which was first proclaimed in 1958 by President Dwight Eisenhower, started as a competitive event during the Cold War between the U.S. and Soviet Union.

After the proclamation signing, Castro administered the attorney’s oath for Russell Henry Lorfing and Tiberius Daniel Mocanu who are the newest successful applicants for admission to the NMI Bar.

NMI Bar president Sean Frink in his speech said he has been in the CNMI for 18 years now and that it is a true pleasure to be a member of the CNMI Bar.

Frink said the lawyers’ fundamental job is to do justice.

“Remember that the business is to do justice,” he advised the newest Bar members.