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Only 30 of 121 active Bar members submit evaluation of judges, justice
Only 30 of the 121 active CNMI Bar members who are based in the Commonwealth took part in the evaluation of the performances of CNMI Supreme Court Associate Justice John A. Manglona, Presiding Judge Robert C. Naraja, and Associate Judge Kenneth L. Govendo.
Bar Association administrative director Suzanne Steffy disclosed yesterday that as of Monday—the deadline for turning in the evaluation forms—30 members submitted the forms, which is about 24.79 percent of the Bar’s membership.
Steffy said most of those who participated hand-delivered the forms while the rest emailed them to her.
“Thirty is not such a bad number because you can get a random sampling of the different attorneys’ opinions of the judges,” Steffy said.
Justice Manglona and Judges Naraja and Govendo are all seeking their third retention on the bench this Nov. 4 election.
Steffy sent the forms to active Bar members on Sept. 24. Of the 187 active members, 121 are in the CNMI. Including inactive members, the association has 310 members.
Steffy said the 30 members who turned in the forms are all active and are here in the CNMI.
The evaluations forms are confidential but a Bar member said a lot of attorneys don’t participate in the evaluation for fear that judges may find out later how the particular lawyers rated their performances.
Steffy said she, former Bar president Sean Frink, and Bar Association secretary Jeanne H. Rayphand will tabulate the 30 forms today, Wednesday.
The Bar will announce the results at their general membership meeting at Hyatt Regency Saipan on Thursday.
