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Judiciary holds ‘Law and the Freshman Legislator’ seminar
The CNMI Judiciary conducted its sixth Law and the Freshman Legislator seminar last Thursday.
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- Freshmen legislators listen to discussions led by CNMI jurists. (Thomas A. Manglona II)
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- Judges Kenneth Govendo, Joseph Camacho, and Teresa Kim-Tenorio conduct a conversation on the role of courts, moderated by Justice John Manglona. (Thomas A. Manglona II)
Chief Justice Alexandro C. Castro began the seminar with an overview of the Covenant and the U.S. and CNMI Constitutions, and U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona following with a presentation on statutory interpretation.
Castro, along with Associate Judges Kenneth L. Govendo, Joseph N. Camacho, and Teresa Kim-Tenorio, subsequently discussed the role of courts to the legislators. The seminar was moderated by Justice John A. Manglona.
Michael A. Stanker, Judiciary general counsel and Law Revision Commission executive director, also touched on the basics of legal research. Following the presentations, Justice Perry B. Inos facilitated a question and answer portion with the justices and judges.
The freshman legislators in attendance included Sen. Sixto K. Igisomar and representatives-elect Blas Jonathan “BJ” T. Attao, Angel A. Demapan, Joseph Leepan T. Guerrero, Glenn L. Maratita, Edwin K. Propst, Vinson Edward “Vinny” F. Sablan, and Francis S. Taimanao.
Propst told Saipan Tribune that the seminar was productive. “What I take from this program is that we as lawmakers need to be sure to write laws that are clear and unambiguous,” he said.
Demapan and Taimanao noted the importance of using plain language in drafting legislation as well.
“I found the seminar very informative. It is also beneficial to my position as a lawmaker,” Taimanao added.
Guerrero expressed his appreciation for the legal research presentation, which gave legislators insight on the Law Revision Commission’s function in gathering Commonwealth laws and regulations.
The Law and the Freshman Legislator seminar was sponsored by the NMI Judiciary Historical Society and is held biannually for new legislators.
