Castro, Kim-Tenorio to run for retention

CNMI Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexandro C. Castro and Superior Court Associate Judge Teresa Kim-Tenorio have officially informed the Commonwealth Election Commission of their intent to run for retention at the Nov. 6 general election.

CEC acting executive director Kayla Igitol disclosed that they received Castro’s letter of notification last Friday and Kim-Tenorio’s yesterday.

Igitol said with the letters, Castro and Kim-Tenorio’s names will be included in the ballots.

In the ballots the electorate will be presented with the question: Shall Chief Justice Alexandro C. Castro of the Commonwealth Supreme Court be retained in office? Shall Judge Teresa Kim-Tenorio of the Commonwealth Superior Court be retained in office?

In his letter to CEC executive director Julita A. Villagomez, Castro said he is writing to confirm that he intends to run for retention and be included in the 2018 ballot.

Castro said under Section 5, Article IV of the NMI Constitution, he is subject to a judicial retention election at the general election immediately before the end of his term.

Castro’s eight-year term will expire on Oct. 10, 2020. Then-governor Benigno R. Fitial nominated him on Sept. 13, 2012 as chief justice of the CNMI Supreme Court.

Castro ascended to the CNMI Supreme Court as associate justice in July 1998. In 2005, voters retained him to the high court’s bench.

Castro became an associate judge in Superior Court in 1989 and became presiding judge in 1993.

In her letter to CEC executive director Villagomez, Kim-Tenorio said she is deeply committed to continuing her public service to the people of the Commonwealth in “administering justice fairly, but with compassion and understanding.”

Kim-Tenorio said pursuant to Article IV of the CNMI Constitution, she gives notice that she will be seeking retention in this year’s general election.

Kim-Tenorio’s term as an associate judge is set to expire on Dec. 22, 2019. She was nominated to the bench on Oct. 3, 2013.

Kim-Tenorio is a judge for the CNMI Drug Court.

Under the CNMI Constitution, the question whether justices or judges will be retained shall be put to a vote at a general election immediately before the end of that justice’s or judge’s initial term of office.

In 2003, Juan T. Lizama became the first judge in the CNMI to be retained on the bench.