NMI pays lavish tribute to ‘big guy with a soft heart’

The CNMI, joined by Guam, Palau, and Pohnpei, paid tribute to the late Chief Justice Marty W. K. Taylor during a memorial service hosted by the Commonwealth Judiciary yesterday in the CNMI Supreme Court.

CNMI Chief Justice Miguel S. Demapan said the Judiciary lost not only a great and true friend, but “an iconic figure who played a large role in shaping the jurisprudence of the Commonwealth.”

“The passing of Chief Justice Taylor has left a great void in the Judiciary, and for us, as well as his family, he is irreplaceable. For those of us who closely worked with him during his days on the bench, he will be forever in our hearts and mind,” Demapan said.

Gov. Benigno R. Fitial described Taylor as a pioneer in the field of CNMI law, while Superior Court Associate Judge Kenneth L. Govendo gave a special tribute to his “best friend” and “big brother.”

Senate President Pete P. Reyes, House Speaker Arnold I. Palacios, and U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Alex R. Munson also delivered brief remarks.

Guam Supreme Court Chief Justice Robert J. Torres and Guam Superior Court Presiding Judge Alberto C. Lamorena III came on behalf of their island’s Judiciary as well as the U.S. Conference of Chief Justices and Pacific Judicial Council.

Others present at yesterday’s ceremony were Republic of Palau Supreme Court Chief Justice Arthur Ngiraklsong, Pohnpei Supreme Court Justice Nickontro Johnny, Saipan Mayor Juan B. Tudela and members of the Saipan Municipal Council.

The Legislature and the municipal council presented Taylor’s wife, Celina Deleon Guerrero Diaz, with resolutions honoring Taylor for his contributions to the CNMI. Members of the Judiciary also presented gifts and ribbons.

Diaz, who was tearful throughout the ceremony, was accompanied by five of their seven children: Antonio, Evelyn, Theresa, Carla, and Randy.

Chief Justice Demapan described Taylor as an easygoing man with humble manners.

“He was a one of a kind and I can safely say that in the judicial circle, everyone had the highest respect for him,” Demapan said.

He said Taylor was a big guy with a soft heart and was always eager to help and teach those who were new or just entering the law business.

Demapan recalled that as a young attorney he was scared to death in his first trial before Taylor.

“Chief Justice Taylor, then associate judge, made me so comfortable, to the point that he completed the cross examination that I was having trouble putting together,” said Demapan, drawing laughter from the people in the courtroom and atrium.

The Chief Justice said Taylor participated in a number of Supreme Court decisions that improved the legal system of the CNMI.

“He didn’t sit by and passively watch our Commonwealth take shape and evolve into the just and progressive society we have become, but led the way by tackling tough issues such as privacy and civil rights,” Demapan said.

Gov. Fitial honored Taylor for his pioneering efforts in CNMI jurisprudence. “During the course of the Commonwealth’s political and economic development, pioneers emerged in areas of business and law and one such pioneer in the area of law was Taylor,” he said.

Superior Court Associate Judge Kenneth L. Govendo delivered an emotional but funny tribute to the man he described as his “best friend” and “big brother.”

Govendo met Taylor in Palau in 1976. In 1978, he and Taylor opened a law firm on Saipan.

The judge said Taylor has “humor with dignity.”

“His heart was bigger than his house,” Govendo said.

Govendo said during the time when he loved to write letters to the editors, it was Taylor who would suggest the titles.

Presiding Judge Robert Naraja said that Taylor’s legacy will continue to echo in the walls of Guma Husticia.

“Taylor was a man of good mind, a man of good heart, a man of good will,” Naraja said.

Guam Presiding Judge Lamorena said Taylor always made him laugh. “A couple of times, I missed my flights.”

Lamorena said Celina would sometimes get upset because Taylor would joke about everything.

“It was a fun time. I thank Celina for being a gracious host. I always remember their generosity,” he said.

Judge Munson said Taylor excelled as a lawyer, but was “a regular guy.”

He recalled an instance when a defendant who was brought to then judge Taylor in the Superior Court for arraignment and then to the federal court later that day, where Taylor was also the judge pro tem. Munson said when the defendant saw Taylor in the federal court, he turned to his lawyer and said: “Damn! These judges look alike!”

Senate President Reyes said Taylor was a big man with a very humble heart who was highly respected in the legal profession.

“Marty is considered a Chamorro. He’s very respected by the people of the Commonwealth,” Reyes said.

Taylor was born in 1937 in Canada. He served as Chief Justice of the CNMI Supreme Court from 1995 to 1998. Prior to this tenure at the high tribunal, he served as an associate judge of the Superior Court from 1989 to 1995.

From 1982 to 1989, he was the deputy public defender, and served as acting public defender in 1979. He also served as legal counsel for the Civil Service Commission from 1979 to 1980, as Secretary of the Board of Parole from 1978 to 1982. He was the staff attorney for the Micronesian Claims Commission from 1974 to 1976.

Former Gov. Froilan Tenorio appointed Taylor to the Supreme Court in 1995. He also served as a designated judge of the U.S. District Court for the NMI, a judge pro tem of the Guam Superior Court, president of the Pacific Judicial Council, chairman of the Commonwealth Justice Planning Agency Supervisory Council, and chairman of the Commonwealth Law Revision Commission.

Altogether, Taylor dedicated 23 years of his life to serving the people of the Commonwealth. He retired as chief justice in 1998. He died Feb. 18, 2009.