Investigation of Judge Bellas sought

Superior Court Associate Judge Timothy H. Bellas has come under fire anew from his arch-critic, Representative-elect Stanley T. Torres, who wants him investigated for alleged improprieties, conflicting duties, extra-judicial and political activities.

In a letter to acting Attorney General Maya B. Kara and Supreme Court Chief Justice Miguel S. Demapan, Torres urged the two officials to take disciplinary action against Judge Bellas for misconduct in office.

Mr. Torres cited five instances over the past two years in which the judge allegedly violated standards as member of the CNMI Judiciary, including his campaign activity in the Nov. 6 elections where he was up for retention vote.

Judge Bellas eventually failed to get enough votes to continue his term of office beyond the expiration on 2001 and Mr. Torres campaigned hard against him.

In his latest attack, the legislator claimed Judge Bellas attended a political meeting on Oct. 13 on Rota where he took the microphone and made a speech to Republican supporters attending the gathering. Likewise, he unlawfully used the official seal of the judicial branch for a campaign ad prior to the elections.

On charges of his conduct beyond office hours, Mr. Torres alleged he was “often seen with his lawyer friends in public places socializing over bottles of beer, and at times shots of Tequila.”

This is a violation of the standards against impropriety or appearance of such in all activities of any member of the judiciary, according to the representative, who is making his political comeback to the Legislature when it convenes in January.

Mr. Torres also noted violation of the Constitution in one of the cases Judge Bellas tried involving Antonio O. Quitugua, whom he forbade from speaking in his indigenous language in his court.

He said the AG and the Supreme Court should look into all these instances he filed as a list of grievances against the judge “for appropriate disciplinary action.”

:I am neither an adversary nor an antagonist of [Judge Bellas],” Mr. Torres wrote. “In fact, I supported his appointment and sought the confidence of some senators at the time of his confirmation hearing four years ago.”

Judge Bellas could not be reached for comment on these latest allegations, but he has defended himself in the past from such criticisms as he noted the Nov. 6 referendum had forced him to campaign to keep his job. (Benhur C. Saladores)