Judicial conference focuses on ‘best practices’ in trials

Guam Supreme Court Chief Justice F. Philip Carbullido serves as the master of ceremony during Monday’s kickoff of the three-day Pacific Judicial Conference at the Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan’s Hibiscus Hall. Carbullido chairs the Pacific Judicial Council’s Education Committee. (FERDIE DE LA TORRE)

Guam Supreme Court Chief Justice F. Philip Carbullido underscored Monday the importance of the two-and-a-half days of the Pacific Judicial Conference on Saipan, saying it provides a unique opportunity for trial lawyers who don’t have to spend the money to go to the U.S. mainland for a trial practice seminar.

“We brought it to Saipan,” said Carbullido in an interview at the conference’s kick-off at the Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan’s Hibiscus Hall.

Carbullido, who chairs PJC’s Education Committee, hopes for every lawyer on Saipan who is interested in trial practice to take advantage of the seminar.

He noted that 10 fellows from the American College of Trial Lawyers are very experienced lawyers who want to share their knowledge and experience of how to improve skills as a trial lawyer.

“And when you do that, you benefit your client. You benefit the community. You provide better legal representation. So it would be an excellent opportunity for lawyers and, ultimately, clients will benefit,” Carbullido said.

The speakers are retired U.S. District of Montana magistrate judge Keith Strong; Richard S. Glaser Jr. from North Carolina; Cathy Fleming from New York, New York; Bruce Maloy from Georgia; Brian O’Neill from Minneapolis; Harold McEhlhinny from San Francisco, California; Fourth District Court of Montana Judge Karen S. Townsend; Michael D. Schwartz of Los Angeles, California; Corrie Yackulic from Seattle; and Charles B. Gibbons from Pittsburg.

Carbullido said the 10 are here as a result of PJC partnering with the American College of Trial Lawyers, an association of trial lawyers in the United States and Canada.

Carbullido said the 10, whom he described as “very accomplished lawyers across the United States,” will be making presentations on the various aspects of trial work, with a focus on best practices of being a trial lawyer for various types of trial work.

Over 60 lawyers and over 40 judicial officers—judges and justices—signed up to participate. The participants are from across Micronesia—the CNMI, Guam, American Samoa, Republic of Palau, Chuuk, Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Yap.

“It’s a very well-supported training that they are hoping to conduct in the next two and a half days,” Carbullido said.

He said he and CNMI Associate Justice John A. Manglona, with the representative from the American College of Trial Lawyers, helped put together the curriculum.

“We’re responsible for planning and bringing the conference to Saipan,” he said.

Carbullido said the 10 presenters will allocate their time to cover about 12 topics in all.

Carbullido said they had a similar training with the same association two years ago in Guam.

He believes the CNMI Bar, as well as judicial officers and trial lawyers on Saipan and in the region, will greatly benefit from the expertise of the trial lawyers. He credits Manglona for helping him coordinate the conference on Saipan.

Monday’s training was only for judges; the lawyers’ training started yesterday, Tuesday.
“It’s a joint session of the lawyers and the judicial officers in the next two days,” he said.