Naraja, Govendo running for retention

Naraja

Superior Court Presiding Judge Roberto C. Naraja and Associate Judge Kenneth L. Govendo have notified the Commonwealth Election Commission that they are running for retention in the upcoming Nov. 3 election.

Naraja submitted his letter of his intent to run for retention through a representative, while Govendo hand-delivered his letter to CEC.

CNMI Supreme Court Associate Justice Perry B. Inos has yet to submit his letter to CEC whether he will seek another term or not.

Govendo

Naraja’s, Govendo’s, and Inos’ terms will expire next year.

Judges’ term is six years, while justices’ term is eight years. Under a constitutional amendment, the question of 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 his letter of intent submitted to CEC executive director Julita A. Villagomez, Naraja, 64, said it will be a privilege to continue his 30-plus years of service to the people of the CNMI and asked CEC to have his name placed on the November ballot for his retention to serve a fourth term as presiding judge of the Superior Court.

He said in making this decision to seek a fourth term as presiding judge, he is motivated by a desire to continue to meet the “very unique and ongoing challenges” of being a judge. “I believe that I have met and continue to meet those challenges successfully and in a manner that upholds the integrity and dignity of the court while improving the objective and standards of the Judiciary,” he said.

Naraja added that he has maintained a sense of fairness, humility, and sensitivity—qualities that he said are inherently important in the administration of justice.

This November will be Naraja’s third retention election. He ascended to the Superior Court bench as associate judge in 2001 when then-governor Pedro P. Tenorio appointed him. Two years later, then-governor Juan N. Babauta appointed him as presiding judge. In 2007 and 2014, voters backed his retention on the bench.

In his brief letter to Villagomez, Govendo said he is running for retention and is requesting to make sure that he is on the ballot.

If the 75-year-old Govendo wins his third six-year term, he will be the oldest judge to sit on the CNMI bench.

Then-governor Babauta appointed Govendo as associate judge in 2003. In 2007 and 2014, voters overwhelmingly voted for Govendo’s retention.

The 53-year-old Inos has yet to undergo the retention election process as an associate justice in the CNMI Supreme Court. He ascended to the bench as an associate judge in the Superior Court on Sept. 22, 2008, after then-governor Benigno R. Fitial nominated him.

In 2012, majority of CNMI voters retained Inos for another six-year term on the bench as associate judge. In March 2013, he became an associate justice in the CNMI Supreme Court after the Senate confirmed his nomination.

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