Supreme Court of Guam
Supreme Court of Guam | |
---|---|
Organic Act of Guam | |
Appeals to | Supreme Court of the United States |
Number of positions | 3 |
Website | Supreme Court of Guam |
Chief Justice | |
Currently | Robert Torres |
Since | January 17, 2023 |
The Supreme Court of Guam is the highest
Structure
The Court is composed of three justices who are appointed by the
Current justices
The current justices of the Supreme Court of Guam are:
- Robert Torres – Chief Justice
- Philip Carbullido – Associate Justice
- Katherine Maraman – Associate Justice
The justice's full biographies can be found at the Supreme Court's website
List of chief justices
Name | Sworn in | Appointer | Term start | Term end |
---|---|---|---|---|
Peter Siguenza | April 21, 1996 | Carl Gutierrez | April 21, 1996 | April 21, 1999 |
September 1, 2001 | January 23, 2003 | |||
Benjamin Cruz | October 13, 1997 | Carl Gutierrez | April 21, 1999 | August 31, 2001 |
Philip Carbullido | October 27, 2000 | Carl Gutierrez | January 23, 2003 | January 15, 2008 |
January 18, 2011 | January 21, 2014 | |||
January 21, 2020 | January 17, 2023 | |||
Robert Torres | January 16, 2004 | Felix P. Camacho
|
January 15, 2008 | January 18, 2011 |
January 21, 2014 | January 17, 2017 | |||
January 17, 2023 | present | |||
Katherine Maraman | February 21, 2008 | Felix P. Camacho
|
January 17, 2017 | January 21, 2020 |
Retired justices
Name | Sworn in | Appointed by | Retired | Judicial positions | Currently |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Peter Siguenza | April 21, 1996 | Carl Gutierrez | August 31, 2001 | Chief Justice of Guam (1996–1999; 2001–2003); Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Guam (1999–2001); Judge of the Superior Court of Guam (1984–1996) | Retired |
Janet Healy Weeks | April 21, 1996 | Carl Gutierrez | April 30, 1999 | Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Guam (1996–1999); Judge of the Superior Court of Guam (1975–1996) | Retired |
Monessa Lujan | April 21, 1996 | Carl Gutierrez | March 15, 1997 | Associate Justice (1996–1997) | Deceased |
Benjamin Cruz | October 13, 1997 | Carl Gutierrez | August 31, 2001 | Chief Justice of Guam (1999–2001); Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Guam (1997–1999); Judge of the Superior Court of Guam (1984–1997) | Vice Speaker, I Mina' Trentai Dos Na Lihislaturan Guahan
|
Frances Tydingco-Gatewood | February 8, 2002 | Carl Gutierrez | October 29, 2006 | Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Guam (2002–2006); Judge of the Superior Court of Guam (1994–2001) | Chief Judge, United States District Court of Guam
|
The Superior Court of Guam
Judges of the Superior Court are appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the Legislature for a term of eight years. If they wish to continue in office, their names are placed on the ballot at a general election. They must garner at least 50 percent plus one favorable vote of the number of cast ballots to remain in office. Judge Richard Benson and Judge Joaquin E. Manibusan were the first to be placed on a ballot. They both received the overwhelming approval of the voters.
The Superior Court is a court of general jurisdiction, and its seven judges preside over criminal, civil, juvenile, probate, small claims, traffic and child support cases brought before them. The hearing officer generally does not preside over all of these subjects, but is utilized predominantly in small claims, family, and traffic matters. In December 2005, the Adult and Juvenile Drug Courts were recognized as courts of record of the Judiciary of Guam. These programs are examples of "therapeutic justice" which focuses on rehabilitation of offenders and their reintegration into society. Judges are assigned to cases on a rotating basis, though one is rotated into assignment as designated Drug Court judge exclusively for a specified period (currently yearly). The Presiding Judge's additional responsibility is primarily procedural and administrative concerns, though formerly the "PJ," as the position is commonly referred to, assigned cases to the various judges.
The current Judges of the Superior Court of Guam are:
- The Hon. Alberto C. Lamorena III (Presiding Judge)
- The Hon. Elyze M. Iriarte
- The Hon. Maria T. Cenzon
- The Hon. Michael J. Bordallo
- The Hon. Vernon P. Perez
- The Hon. Arthur R. Barcinas
- The Hon. Dana A. Gutierrez
- The Hon. Alberto Tolentino
Former Judges include:
- The Hon. Paul J. Abbate Jr. (Presiding Judge)
- The Hon. Elizabeth Barrett-Anderson
- The Hon. Richard Benson
- The Hon. James L. Canto II
- The Hon. Benjamin J. Cruz. (Elevated to Guam Supreme Court)
- The Hon. Judge Ramon V. Diaz
- The Hon. Janet Healy-Weeks (Elevated to Guam Supreme Court)
- The Hon. Joaquin V.E. Manibusan
- The Hon. Joaquin V.E. Manibusan Jr. (Appointed U.S. Magistrate Judge for District Court of Guam)
- The Hon. Joaquin C. Perez (Guam's first Presiding Judge)
- The Hon. John Raker
- The Hon. Vicente C. Reyes (Guam's first island attorney)
- The Hon. Peter C. Siguenza Jr. (Elevated to Guam Supreme Court)
- The Hon. Anita A. Sukola
- The Hon. Frances Tydingco-Gatewood (Elevated to Guam Supreme Court. Appointed Chief Judge for District Court of Guam)
- The Hon. Steven S. Unpingco
See also
References
- ^ "48 U.S.C. § 1424–3".
- ^ Judiciary of Guam. "Judicial History". Retrieved 4 May 2021.
External links
- Judiciary of Guam
- "Guam", Caselaw Access Project, Harvard Law School, Harvard Law Library