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‘Put Tinian lawyer on Lizama’s post’
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Posted on Jun 17 2008
Tinian lawmakers are lobbying Gov. Benigno R. Fitial to replace retired Judge Juan T. Lizama with an attorney from their island.
Sen. Joseph M. Mendiola, chairman of the Tinian Legislative Delegation, asked the governor to appoint the next judge from among the Tinian’s pool of attorneys, which includes Lucia Blanco-Maratita, Ramon K. Quichocho, Joey Patrick San Nicolas, and Janet H. King.
“In the past, Tinian has not had any local attorneys and perhaps that has been the reason why we have not had a judge appointed who was from Tinian. However, within the last 10 years, Tinian has gained four new lawyers in our community through their diligence and commitment to ensuring that our people are no longer under-represented in the legal community,” Mendiola said.
He said the four attorneys from Tinian have the qualifications to become the next Commonwealth Superior Court judge.
The Fitial administration has said it is not in a hurry to fill the vacancy left by Lizama. “I am sure [the governor] will consider it carefully and make the appointment in due course,” said press secretary Charles P. Reyes Jr.
Superior Court Associate Judge Juan T. Lizama stepped down from the bench on May 24, 2008, to run for the U.S. Congress. Lizama retired just 40 days short of his 10th year on the bench.
