Previous Story
Substantial caseload awaiting the new judge
|
Posted on Jul 11 2008
A huge caseload is waiting for the governor’s choice for the vacant seat at the Superior Court.
Presiding Judge Robert Naraja said yesterday that approximately 5,000 cases are filed with the Superior Court every year. Divided among the five judges, this translates to an average of 1,000 cases for each judge in one year.
When former Judge Juan T. Lizama retired in May 2008, his caseload was spread out among the four judges left behind.
“A lot of work awaits whoever the governor appoints and the Senate confirms to replace Judge Lizama,” Naraja said in an interview after Chief Justice Miguel Demapan’s State of the Judiciary address at the Legislature.
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial has nominated attorney Perry Inos to the bench. The Senate has yet to confirm the appointment.
Both Demapan and Naraja declined to comment on the governor’s pick. They cited ethical reasons.
“I don’t want to make any comments that might affect the Senate’s decision. I would just let them do their work,” said Demapan.
Naraja echoed the chief justice’s statement, adding that the Superior Court judges will welcome whoever gets confirmed to be Lizama’s replacement. He said he will ensure the next judge gets the necessary training.
Inos has been in private practice since 1997. Before that, he worked as a teacher at Rota High School, student coordinator at the Rota campus of the Northern Marianas College, assistant attorney general for the Office of the Attorney General’s Criminal Division, and associate attorney at the law office of now Supreme Court Justice John A. Manglona.
Inos graduated with a bachelor’s degree, major in business management, from the University of Guam in 1987. He attended the University of New Mexico School of Law and received his law degree in 1994.
