Torres: CNMI will be well-served by Tenorio on the bench
The people of the Commonwealth will be well-served by deputy attorney general Lillian A. Tenorio on the bench, given her competence and commitment to the rule of law and equal access to justice in the CNMI courts, according to veteran lawyer Robert T. Torres.
In his letter Monday to Senate Executive Appointments and Government Investigations Committee chair Celina R. Babauta (D-Saipan), Torres said his experience with Tenorio showed him that she maintains the highest standard of professionalism and sets a standard of excellence and competence for herself at all times.
“She approaches every issue, case, or litigation with careful review. Ms. Tenorio then reviews the applicable case law, statute, or regulation at issue,” said the lawyer, adding that from there she will draft with thorough diligence and review the analysis to ensure the quality of the work in every aspect.
Gov. Arnold I. Palacios has nominated Tenorio to serve on the Superior Court. If confirmed, she will succeed former associate judge Wesley Bogdan, who retired last month.
Torres said Tenorio’s strengths are research, drafting, and analysis.
As a practitioner before CNMI courts, he said there is every reason to be confident that litigants and parties appearing before Tenorio as an associate judge will receive this kind of preparation and product—the standard expected of every jurist.
Another aspect of Tenorio that Torres believes makes her ready to assume the bench is her legal and non-legal experience.
He said Tenorio’s legal career started after several years working in the CNMI then going to law school at the University of Mexico.
The lawyer said Tenorio worked in public policy at the CNMI Legislature.
After law school, Tenorio clerked for CNMI Supreme Court Justice John A. Manglona, both at the Superior Court and then the Supreme Court.
Torres said that when he returned to private practice after his short foray as attorney general, Tenorio also returned to private practice and they shared offices with their separate law firms.
“Our Commonwealth will be well-served well with Ms. Tenorio on the Superior Court bench,” he said.
Robert T. Torres
