Previous Story
‘Fitial can make 5 appointments to Judiciary’
|
Posted on Nov 04 2011
By Ferdie de la Torre
Reporter
Reporter
With the retirement of Miguel S. Demapan as chief justice of the CNMI Supreme Court in September, Gov. Benigno R. Fitial can actually make five appointments to the Judiciary.
Two lawyers told Saipan Tribune that the five appointments can be realized if Fitial will nominate either associate justices Alexandro Castro and John Manglona as the new chief justice.
This scenario may also occur if the governor appoints Superior Court Presiding Judge Robert C. Naraja to fill the associate justice position to be vacated either Castro and Manglona, said the two lawyers, who both asked not to be identified.
Fitial can then appoint any among Superior Court associate judges Kenneth L. Govendo, David A. Wiseman, and Perry B. Inos to become the new Superior Court presiding judge.
The governor can then make the fifth appointment by filling up the associate judge position that will be vacated if whoever among Govendo, Wiseman and Inos is named presiding judge.
Fitial had already made the first appointment-attorney James Norita Camacho-to replace then Superior Court associate judge Ramona V. Manglona, who is now the chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the NMI.
The two lawyers said that Fitial will be short of achieving five appointments if he decides not to elevate either associate justices Castro and Manglona to be the new chief justice.
The lawyers said the governor can appoint any attorney-not just a sitting judge or associate justice-to be the new chief justice.
