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CNMI Bar starts evaluating Manglona, Naraja, Govendo
The CNMI Bar Association sent out yesterday to its active members the form for the performance evaluation of CNMI Supreme Court Associate Justice John A. Manglona, Presiding Judge Robert C. Naraja, and Associate Judge Kenneth L. Govendo, who are all seeking retention on the bench this November election.
Bar Association administrative director Suzanne Steffy told Saipan Tribune that she’s sending the evaluation form, via email, to the Bar’s 195 active members.
Steffy said members are given a month, or until Oct. 20, to give back the evaluation form.
She said they may announce the results during the Bar Association’s regular meeting at Hyatt Regency Saipan on Oct. 23.
Steffy disclosed that for this year, they are using a similar evaluation form they used in 2007.
During the 2007 Bar evaluation, Justice Manglona and then-Superior Court associate judge and now U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona were the first to obtain an impressive “good” rating among the magistrates who were evaluated by the Bar Association.
“Good” means the magistrates often exceed minimum standards of performance.
Both Naraja and Govendo got the upper end of “acceptable” rating during that same evaluation.
In the November election, voters overwhelmingly voted for the retention of the Manglonas, Naraja, and Govendo. Manglona’s term that expired in 2008 was extended eight more years, while Naraja and Govendo, whose terms as judges expired in 2009, got an additional six years.
Manglona, Naraja, and Govendo are seeking a third term as associate justice, presiding judge, and associate judge, respectively.
