Previous Story
NMI Judiciary holds attorney admissions ceremony
The CNMI Judiciary held an attorney admissions ceremony on Friday, Oct. 3, 2014, in the Commonwealth Supreme Court at the Guma’ Hustisia. The special proceeding was opened by Nora V. Borja, acting clerk of the Supreme Court, and Daisy Mendiola, acting clerk of the Superior Court. Chief Justice Alexandro C. Castro greeted the new attorneys’ family, friends, and colleagues. In his remarks, the chief justice reminded the new attorneys of their special opportunities and responsibilities.
-
- Top row: U.S. District Court Clerk of Court/Magistrate Judge Heather L. Kennedy, Presiding Judge Robert C. Naraja, Justice John A. Manglona, Chief Justice Alexandro C. Castro, Justice Perry B. Inos, Judge Kenneth L. Govendo, Judge Joseph N. Camacho, Judge Teresa K. Kim-Tenorio. Bottom row: Chong Man Won, Charles P. Reyes Jr., Shelli Latrice Neal, Claire Maureen Kelleher-Smith, Charity Rebekah Hodson, Oliver Manalang Manglona. (JIM STOWELL)
-
- Admitted were, from left to right, Charity Rebekah Hodson, Claire Maureen Kelleher-Smith, Oliver Manalang Manglona, Shelli Latrice Neal, Charles P. Reyes Jr. and Chong Man Won. (JIM STOWELL)
-
- Heather L. Kennedy, Clerk of Court and Magistrate Judge for the Federal District Court of the Northern Mariana Islands, delivered the special remarks. (JIM STOWELL)
-
- Charity Rebekah Hodson J.D., Thomas Jefferson School of Law B.A., San Diego State University
-
- Charles P. Reyes, Jr. J.D., University of Idaho School of Law B.A., University of Hawai’i
-
- Chong Man Won J.D., University of Akron School of Law B.S., DeVry University
-
- Claire Maureen Kelleher-Smith J.D., University of California, Berkeley School of Law B.A., University of Arizona
-
- Oliver Manalang Manglona J.D., University of Hawai’i, William S. Richardson School of Law B.A., St. Mary’s University
-
- Shelli Latrice Neal J.D., University of Texas School of Law B.A., Vanderbilt University
In attendance for the CNMI Judiciary were associate justices John A. Manglona and Perry B. Inos; Presiding Judge Robert C. Naraja; and associate judges Kenneth L. Govendo, Joseph N. Camacho, and Teresa K. Kim-Tenorio.
Heather L. Kennedy, Clerk of Court and Magistrate Judge for the Federal District Court of the Northern Mariana Islands, delivered the special remarks. She related how she had found personal inspiration from a quote by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who visited the CNMI in 2012. Kennedy, quoting Sotomayor, said: “We educated and privileged lawyers have a professional and moral duty to represent the underrepresented in our society, to ensure that justice exists for all, both legal and economic justice.” Accordingly, Kennedy urged the new attorneys to infuse their practices everyday with the concepts of justice, fairness, and help for others, as well as being the lawyer that they and their community can be proud of.
Jeanne Rayphand, the CNMI Bar Association secretary, presented to the Judiciary the applicants who were eligible for admission to the Bar Association because they had recently passed the required examinations to practice law in the Commonwealth. (NMI Judiciary)
