Humbled by her confirmation

Superior Court associate judge Ramona Villagomez Manglona said yesterday that she is much humbled after having been confirmed by the U.S. Senate as a judge for the U.S. District Court for the NMI.

In an interview with Saipan Tribune yesterday, Manglona gave thanks to President Barack Obama, who nominated her to the U.S. Senate, to the U.S. Senate itself, and the chairman of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee and committee members.

“Dangkulo na si yuus ma’ase not only to the President, the U.S. senators, but also our local leaders who have been supportive throughout this whole process, including Congressman Kilili, Governor Fitial, the members of the Bar Association who have been involved in the vetting process and a lot of family members and friends,” she said.

On being the first woman to be named permanent judge for the U.S. District Court for the NMI and the first person born on Saipan to get that position, Manglona said: “It is a great honor.”

She said she is grateful and believes everyone is grateful that Obama and the U.S. Senate have seen it fit to allow her to serve as a federal judge.

Manglona said she will soon be resigning as Superior Court judge—a position she has held since 2003.

She is currently serving her second six-year term, which was renewed in May 2009 after majority of voters retained her to the bench. She has four more years on her second term. A federal court judge has a 10-year term.

“Even though I tender my letter of resignation, the effective date will be contingent on when the President signs the commission that basically certifies that the constitutional process has been completed,” Manglona explained.

She said there is no specific date yet as to her oath-taking as a federal judge considering that it will be contingent on her satisfying all those information that she will be forwarding to Washington D.C.

“After I satisfy all the requirements, the President can sign the commission, then I will be able to take the oath,” she said.

Manglona said she can choose who will administer her oath. She thinks it would be an honor to have the chief judge in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, Alex Kozinski.

If Kozinski will not be able to do so, Manglona said she would prefer to have the nearest federal judge, and that would be Frances Tydingco-Gatewood, the chief judge of the U.S. District Court of Guam.

Manglona encouraged more local people and those that have chosen the Commonwealth to be their home to pursue law “because it is a very noble profession.”

“And for women who are maybe intimidated about the profession, I strongly encourage them to give it a try and give themselves the benefit of doubt that they can. If my progress so far can show something, I think it is doable. If I can do it, they can do it,” she said.