Senate may confirm Manglona, Soll today

Supreme Court nominee Judge John A. Manglona and acting Attorney General Herb D. Soll are expected to be confirmed by the Senate today during a session on Tinian.

The two recent appointees by Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio, however, are to face a separate public grilling by senators before they give their advice and consent, although they are not likely to draw opposition.

Sen. Joaquin G. Adriano, chair of the powerful Senate Executive Appointments and Governmental Investigations Committee, said the town meeting is just “formality” since members have already approved their appointments.

Named by the governor last month to the Supreme Court, Judge Manglona will fill in the third seat left vacant by the retirement of former Chief Justice Marty W.K. Taylor in December 1998.

The nomination of lawyer Eric Smith, who was appointed at the same time to the Superior Court to replace Judge Manglona if he gets the approval, is expected to be deliberated by the committee in the next few weeks.

Mr. Soll, on the other hand, will become the first-ever Attorney General confirmed by the Senate after a long succession of acting chief government lawyers that dated back to the previous administration. He was appointed to the post in February, weeks after the Superior Court forced then acting AG Maya B. Kara out of office.

Aside from the two top nominees, the Senate is also set to give its confidence votes to Susana Mafnas as member of the NMI Retirement Fund Board.

Former Rep. Benet Seman, whose appointment to the Commonwealth Development Authority Board has been pending for the last two months, will not likely be confirmed anytime soon.

According to a Senate source, senators from Rota and Tinian are blocking her nomination after she reportedly told them that she won’t appear in any EAGI hearing and that it’s up to the upper house whether to confirm her or not.

Ms. Seman, who chose not to seek re-election in the November midterm polls, could not be reached for comment on the allegation.

Meanwhile, today’s session is expected to tackle several measures, including the proposed election reforms. Senate Floor Leader Pete P. Reyes will amend the bill offered by Sen. Ramon S. Guerrero to ensure that any primary before the 2001 general elections is not affected by changes to the existing law.

The session and the public hearings are being held one after another on Tinian to coincide with the island’s celebration of the feast of San Jose, its patron saint, which ends this Sunday. (Benhur C. Saladores)