Torres’ Feb. trial moved to June

Ralph DLG Torres

The previously scheduled Feb. 13 jury trial of former governor Ralph DLG Torres in the criminal case filed against him in the Superior Court has been vacated due to unforeseen circumstances.

According to an order issued by Superior Court judge pro tem Alberto Tolentino yesterday, he has granted the request made by the defense to continue Torres’ trial to a later date. Tolentino also clarified that he isn’t ruling on any of the arguments made by the parties.

“The court has read both defendant’s and the Commonwealth’s submissions. However, due to unforeseen circumstances unrelated to this matter, the court is unable to proceed with the current Feb. 13 trial date. Therefore the court shall grant defendant’s motion pursuant to its authority to control its own calendar, and does so without substantively ruling on the issues mentioned in the party’s briefs. For the following reason, defendant’s motion for continuance of trial is granted,” said Tolentino.

He did not specify these “unforeseen circumstances.”

Due to the continuance, the Feb. 13 jury trial date previously set by the court has been vacated and Torres’ trial is now set for June 5, at 9am.

According to Saipan Tribune archives, Torres’ lawyer, Victorino Torres, previously asked the court to push the trial further to sometime in August to accommodate his schedule.

“My client has waived his right to a speedy trial. There is no reason to fast-track these proceedings,” said Victorino Torres, who is the governor’s brother.

However, the Office of the Attorney General, which is prosecuting the former governor, opposed another continuance, saying the jury trial has already been pushed back several times now.

In an eight-page motion opposing the defense’s request for another continuance, OAG chief solicitor Robert Glass Jr. essentially said that Torres has four lawyers to represent him and the conflict of schedule of one is not enough reason for a continuance.

Glass argued that the defendant provides no reason why one of his other three lawyers cannot be present or represent him at the February trial.

Back in April 2022, the OAG filed a criminal case against Torres, alleging 12 counts of misconduct in public office and one count of theft relating to the issuance of airline tickets for business class, first class, or other premium class travel for himself and/or Diann T. Torres, his wife.