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No rush in appointing associate justice – Teno
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Posted on Jul 12 1999
While newly-appointed Chief Justice Miguel S. Demapan is expected to be confirmed by the Senate by this week, nomination of a third justice to complete composition of the Supreme Court may take some time.
Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio said he would meet with the CNMI Bar Association to help him pick likely candidates to the post who would join Demapan and Associate Justice Alexandro C. Castro in the high tribunal.
Former Chief Justice Marty W.K. Taylor retired last December from government service, although he has since appeared during Supreme Court proceedings sitting en banc. Prior to Demapan’s appointment earlier this month, he and Castro had agreed to jointly assume the chief post.
In an interview with reporters Friday, the governor said he would still have to resolve concerns regarding court appointments, including the choice of the Senate which has the sole authority to confirm his nominees to any government board and agency.
“There are some issues that I have to take into consideration whether who would be moved to the Supreme Court and also who would be the next appointed judge,” Tenorio said.
He maintained that he would seek advise from the lawyers’ group and from members of the Senate to ensure that his appointees have the support from these institutions.
The Bar Association has in the past helped the governor pick likely candidates to both the Superior Court and Supreme Court and was believed instrumental in naming Demapan as chief justice.
Asked whether he would come up with his candidate to become the new justice very soon, Tenorio said the Supreme Court does not see “immediate need” for this third official.
“The immediate need is not that critical,” he explained. “Eventually there is going to be a need because there are so many cases now in appeal to the Supreme Court.”
But he assured that “it won’t be too long” when a new appointment is made. “It takes little time because we have so many other things that we are doing. I understand that it is also very important to make sure that they have three justices in the Supreme Court,” Tenorio added.
