Army of Wiseman supporters calls for prompt confirmation • Sen. Joaquin Adriano says EAGI Committee may decide on Friday

Representative Stanley Torres’ plan to block the confirmation of David A, Wiseman’s nomination as Superior Court associate judge appeared to have landed in vain after an army of the lawyer’s supporters flocked a public hearing yesterday.

The Senate gallery was unusually filled with people who were all eager to witness how the public hearing called by the Executive Appointments and Governmental Investigations Committee on Mr. Wiseman’s nomination would turn out.

Mr. Wiseman’s “cheering gallery” ranged from government officials to his wife, Faith. In her impassioned testimony, Mrs. Wiseman revealed how the accusations of Mr. Torres had deeply hurt her family and that “the past two months have been torture for her.”

She further averred to her husband being a good man and a really hard worker. While ex-local officials said the allegations of the lawmaker had no truth in them, one even called them malicious myths. They also called on the Senate to confirm Mr. Wiseman as Superior Court associate judge.

But what seemed to be the most credible statement in the morning’s proceedings were the testimonies of Chief Public Defender Masood Karimipour and Bar Association’s spokesperson Attorney Roberto Tenorio Torres.

Mr. Karimipour, summoned to the EAGI hearing at the Senate’s behest, only did justice to Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio’s nomination of Mr. Wiseman to the Superior Court.

The Chief Public Defender said that a nominee to the Superior Court must possess personal and professional integrity. Throughout his professional contact with Mr. Wiseman, the attorney had given him no reason to question his honesty or integrity, Mr. Karimipour said.

He also said Mr. Wiseman is qualified to the position of associate judge in the Superior Court, having practiced in a variety of legal fields — criminal law, civil law, administrative law, family law, juvenile law, real estate law, corporate law, appellate practice, and federal practice, among other specialties.

Commenting on the accusations hurled against Mr. Wiseman, Mr. Karimipour clarified that he had no knowledge on the specific allegations raised against the nominee, having been a resident and public servant in the CNMI for only three years.

In contrast, the accusations against Mr. Wiseman date as far back as 16 or more years ago.

On the other hand, Mr. Torres said contrary to exposes, Mr. Wiseman is a member in good standing in the Bar Association where he has been part of since the 1970s. Mr. Wiseman was already a member even when the lawyer’s group was still a fledgling association, Mr. Torres revealed.

Although, he did not say if the associate judge nominee has pending complaints, he, however said that complaints against lawyers are routinely received by the Bar Association.

Mr. Torres also said Mr. Wiseman has not been meted any disciplinary action by the Bar Association.

Earlier in the morning, Mr. Torres again reiterated his stand that Mr. Wiseman is unfit to the position of associate judge of the Superior Court. With the nominee sitting just across the Senate Hall, the lawmaker enumerated in detail the reasons why the Senate should not confirm the former Special Attorney of the CNMI.

Mr. Torres called Mr. Wiseman a malpractitioner and accused him with a gamut of offenses, ranging from bribery, involvement in prostitution, harboring illegal aliens, verbally attacking police officers, among others.

With the morning’s drama over, the Senate EAGI Committee resumed in the afternoon and its Chairman Senator Joaquin Adriano said they needed more time to weigh and consider the testimonies brought before them.

Senator Adriano said if things go well, they may arrive at decision on Friday and a Senate session would be finally called to decide the fate of Attorney Wiseman’s nomination as Superior Court associate judge.