As Associate Judge Wiseman gets Senate’s nod

It’s Associate Judge David Wiseman now.

Months of nail-biting on the part of Mr. Wiseman and persistent accusations by Rep. Stanley Torres finally ended yesterday when the Senate formally confirmed the lawyer’s nomination as associate judge to the Superior Court.

“This is a glorious day. I am overwhelmed with joy and honored by this good Senate’s confirmation of my nomination for Associate Judge of the Superior Court,” Mr. Wiseman said in a press statement.

Eight of the nine senators voted to confirm Mr. Wiseman’s nomination. Seven of the senators made statements in support for the new associate judge of the Superior Court. The only dissenting vote came from Sen. Thomas P. Villagomez.

The lawmaker has in the past expressed desire to have the attorney’s vaulted case on alleged bribery and land lease cases opened by the Senate.

Mr. Villagomez said he only wanted the contents of the cases examined so that there would no longer be any doubt whether or not Mr. Wiseman deserves the post.

Mr. Torres, who had doggedly opposed Mr. Wiseman’s nomination from the onset, asserted that the sealed cases in the Bar Association contains proof that the lawyer was involved in bribing a Commonwealth Utilities Commission employee and in land scams.

The maverick lawmaker also accused Mr. Wiseman of being engaged in prostitution and even of using illegal drugs. In an interview, Mr. Torres even challenged the attorney to take a drug test.

Mr. Torres’ expose, however, proved futile after an army of Mr. Wiseman’s supporters invaded the Senate hall last Feb. 27. Among those who testified averring to the attorney’s fitness for the post included Chief Public Defender Masood Karimipour and the Bar Association’s spokesperson Attorney Roberto Tenorio Torres

In his statement after being confirmed, Mr. Wiseman expressed appreciation to Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio for nominating him to the post, the senators for giving him advise and consent to the governor’s nomination.

Mr. Wiseman also lauded the support of his wife, daughter and friends as well as the more than 700 people who submitted formal endorsements urging the senators to uphold his confirmation.

“I am anxious to take my place on the bench and will endeavor to uphold and improve the objectives and standards of the judiciary with a sense of fairness, humility and sensitivity, qualities which are so inherently important in the administration of justice,” the new associate judge said.

Mr. Wiseman was nominated by Gov. Tenorio in January to fill the seat vacated by former judge John A. Manglona, who was confirmed as Supreme Court associate justice in June 2000.