Tenorio vows to maintain confidence in Judiciary’s impartiality, fairness

Deputy attorney general Lillian Ada Tenorio said yesterday that, if she is confirmed by the Senate as an associate judge of the Superior Court, she will ensure that her service will maintain confidence in the impartiality and fairness of the Judiciary to uphold the rule of law and to ensure equal access to justice.

“I will commit to work efficiently and effectively to support and defend the rule of law, the [CNMI] Constitution and laws of the Commonwealth, the Covenant, and the applicable provisions of the Constitution laws and treaties of the United States,” Tenorio said during a confirmation hearing before the Senate Executive Appointments and Government Investigations held at the Tinian Public Library.

Tenorio received overwhelming support from many people on Tinian for her nomination as an associate judge.

She said she is humbled and honored by the confidence that Gov. Arnold I. Palacios and Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang have placed in her.

Tenorio said she looks forward to the new challenges she will face as an associate judge if she is given the privilege by the Senate.

She said she understands that the role of a judge is to be an independent arbiter of cases brought before the court, making decisions impartially by evaluating facts and interpreting and applying law.

Tenorio described her legal experience as a “comprehensive journey,” beginning as a legislative legal assistant at the CNMI Legislature back in the ’90s delving into the introverted workings of the legislative process and developing a key understanding of crafting and interpreting laws.

Tenorio said this foundation and encouragement by the late former CNMI attorney general Maya Kara encouraged her to pursue a legal career.

After graduating from the University of New Mexico School of Law, Tenorio did her clerkship at the CNMI Superior Court and Supreme Court, where she worked under Justice John A. Manglona.

She said she honed her analytical framework and garnered a deep appreciation for the meticulous application of legal principles to relevant facts, then venturing into a world of counsel for the House of Representatives.

“I embrace the challenges of navigating the intersection of law and policy, gaining firsthand experience in legislative advocacy, then transitioning to private practice,” she said.

Tenorio said she has engaged in a diverse range of legal fields, from administrative law to family law, collaborating often with litigators, like Robert Torres, and mastering the skills of effective representation of private clients. She said this private sector experience provided invaluable insights into the competitive legal landscape of the CNMI.

Tenorio said she then returned to public service in her current position as deputy attorney general for the CNMI first elected Attorney General Edward Manibusan, who is serving his third term.

Tenorio’s principal duty as deputy AG has been to serve as the primary counsel for the departments and agencies of the Executive Branch and to oversee the staff attorneys assigned to each agency.

She said her work experience with the Legislative, Judicial, and Executive branches has not only equipped her with a comprehensive understanding of the law, but also instilled in her the versatility and resilience required to serve as a well-rounded legal professional.

Tenorio said she has called the Northern Mariana Islands her home all her life, as did her parents and generations before them.

Tenorio’s late parents, Francisco Castro Ada and Ines Seman Ada, were school teachers during the Trust Territory era.

She said her parents taught her and her siblings the values of good citizenship, respect of others, and lesson that there is no substitute for hard work, both personally and professionally.

She said these lessons have nourished her as a daughter, sister, wife, mother and grandmother and have guided her through her more than 24 years of experience as a lawyer.

The EAGI Committee, chaired by Sen. Celina R. Babauta (D-Saipan), will also hold confirmation hearing for Tenorio on Rota and Saipan.