King quits PDO to take care of her mother

Attorney Janet Han King has resigned from the Public Defender’s Office to take care of her 66-year-old mother who resides on Tinian.

In a telephone interview with Saipan Tribune yesterday, Janet King said her last day as assistant public defender was Oct. 23, 2008.

“I decided that my priority right now is to stay on Tinian to be with my mother,” she said. “Since the passing of my father she also needs me now more than ever.”

Janet King’s father, Juan Borja King, passed away last Oct. 9.

Since she starting working at PDO on Dec. 3, 2007, Janet King has been commuting to Tinian every single weekend and sometimes even during weekdays.

“My father was always here (Tinian) in person during the daytime. But now without him my Mom won’t have anyone else except me to count on,” the lawyer said.

Janet King said she did not at all contemplate leaving PDO so suddenly.

“I deeply regret having to break a promise to my clients and to the people of the CNMI and also to the people I worked with. The promise to always keep going and fighting well for them,” she said.

King said it’s the end of her job at PDO, but that she is very comfortable with her choice.

“For me it’s the right choice. Family is always the right choice. She (mother Lucy Han King) is my top priority,” she said.

Janet King said she may start gradually opening up a law firm on Tinian so she can continue to make her mother a priority.

“But I definitely intend to continue the career that I’ve always wanted for as long as I can remember,” she said.

At PDO, King was the Tinian designated attorney or the one who handled all Tinian cases. She also worked on other cases with other attorneys at PDO ranging from misdemeanors, felonies, and juveniles.

Janet King passed the CNMI, Hawaii, and Guam Bar Examinations. She was part of the year 2000 pre-law program that was initially sponsored by the late justice Ramon G. Villagomez. She is also a former Miss CNMI Universe.

Asked for comment yesterday about King’s departure from PDO, Chief Public Defender Adam Hardwicke said Janet King made a very difficult decision to stop working at PDO because she knew that it would be difficult for her clients.

“We love Janet. She’s welcome back anytime she is free,” Hardwicke said.

The chief public defender said Janet King’s priority is her mother and she understood that with her priority being her mother that she would not be able to do what’s required for her clients as public defender.

“She decided to say goodbye. She didn’t want to and I didn’t want her to go,” Hardwicke said.

Hardwicke described King being a public defender as “perfect and exemplary.”

“She is what any public defenders should be. And I know that she is heart broken having leave the office,” he said.