Wiseman nomination as judge blocked

Barely a week since his nomination as Superior Court associate judge, lawyer David A. Wiseman has come under scrutiny for his actions committed in the past.

Rep. Stanley T. Torres wrote yesterday to the governor to deplore the choice for the next judge, saying he would be remiss in his responsibility if he keeps silent and not expose what he knows about Mr. Wiseman.

He called for a thorough background check before he is confirmed to the post and that the judge-designee should answer publicly to the allegations the legislator brought up in his letter to Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio.

“The integrity and the credibility of the courts in the CNMI are at stake if and when the nominee is confirmed and later found to have been or may have been proven [guilty of] the allegations,” Mr. Torres wrote.

Mr. Wiseman, however, brushed aside the charges as he expressed confidence that he would be able to respond to these during the hearing in the Senate on his confirmation “to their satisfaction.

“It’s unfortunate to have these some strange and defamatory remarks in the face of mounting support from numerous responsible, prominent citizens and government officials,” he said in reaction to Mr. Torres’ move.

Questions

In the letter, questions were raised whether Mr. Wiseman has ever or at one time taken marijuana, cocaine and “ice” during his 23 years of residency on the island.

The Saipan representative likewise asked if he has ever been engaged in the prostitution business and defended suspected prostitutes whom Mr. Torres identified as Chinese women who later escaped prosecution in the CNMI.

Noting that Mr. Wiseman is the owner of Services Unlimited, a manpower agency, he asked whether the lawyer has assisted or been a recruiter of illegal aliens whom he represents in their criminal cases in the court and other activities.

“Mr. Wiseman is a wise man… [He] is supposed to be a fair person in his profession and to protect the interest of the impaired, the disabled and the illiterate persons of the CNMI,” Mr. Torres explained.

“But somehow, he has at one time threatened to sue an individual of a CNMI descent in the court for helping another CNMI descent who is illiterate with a hearing impairment,” he added.

He urged against confirming judges to earn $120,000 a year and waste taxpayers money when they “frequently recuse themselves due to their past conflict of interest.”

Mr. Wiseman, 58, was named by the governor last week to fill the seat vacated by Supreme Court Associate Justice John A. Manglona after he was elevated to the post last June.

Scrutiny

While the powerful Senate Committee on Executive Appointments and Governmental Investigations has yet to set a confirmation hearing, its chair Sen. Joaquin G. Adriano has declared his support for Mr. Tenorio’s latest nominee.

But in light of Mr. Torres’ allegations, members of the committee said they must scrutinize the nominee before giving their advice and consent.

“We’re not going to ignore these allegations or take them lightly,” said Senate Vice President Thomas P. Villagomez, adding the confirmation hearing should take place as soon as possible to clear these questions.

Another EAGI member, on the other hand, pointed out there have been calls received by his office asking not to support Mr. Wiseman’s confirmation.

“I believe these are things that will erode the committee’s confidence on him to sit as a judge,” he said in a separate interview, requesting anonymity.

A long-time contender to the post, Mr. Wiseman’s name was bypassed when the governor appointed lawyer Eric Smith in April 2000 who was never confirmed by the Senate up until his nomination expired three months later.