Supreme Court of Guam

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Supreme Court of Guam
Guam Judicial Center2.JPG
The Guam Judicial Center, with the Supreme Court on the third floor
Established1996 (29 years ago)
Jurisdiction Guam
Location Hagåtña, Guam
Authorised by Organic Act of Guam
Appeals to Supreme Court of the United States
Number of positions3
Website Supreme Court of Guam
Chief Justice
Currently Robert Torres
SinceJanuary 17, 2023

The Supreme Court of Guam is the highest judicial body of the United States territory of Guam. The Court hears all appeals from the Superior Court of Guam and exercises original jurisdiction only in cases where a certified question is submitted to it by a U.S. federal court, the Governor of Guam, or the Guam Legislature. The Supreme Court of Guam is the ultimate judicial authority on local matters. In the past, appeals of questions involving the U.S. Constitution or federal laws or treaties were heard by a three-judge appellate panel of the U.S. District Court of Guam, from which appeals could be further taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, [1] but this is no longer the case. Since 2006, the court's decisions have only been appealable to the Supreme Court of the United States, in line with the practice regarding the highest courts of the 50 states. [2] The Court sits in the Monessa G. Lujan Memorial Courtroom, which is on the third floor of the Guam Judicial Center in Hagåtña, Guam.

Contents

Structure

The Court is composed of three justices who are appointed by the Governor of Guam and confirmed by the Guam Legislature. Justices serve for terms of good behavior, subject to a retention election every ten years after his/her appointment. The three justices issue judgment on all cases brought before them. They all sit on the Judicial Council of Guam, which is ultimately in charge of the administration of the Guam Judiciary.

Current justices

The justice's full biographies can be found at the Supreme Court's website. The current justices of the Supreme Court of Guam are:

NameStartChief TermTerm EndsAppointerLaw School
Robert Torres , Chief JusticeJanuary 16, 20042008–2011
2015–2017
2023–present		2034 Carl Gutierrez (D) Harvard
Philip Carbullido October 27, 20002003–2008
2011–2014
2020–2023		2030 Carl Gutierrez (D) UC Davis
Katherine Maraman February 21, 20082017–20202028 Felix P. Camacho (R) UNM

List of chief justices

NameTerm StartChief StartChief EndAppointer
Peter Siguenza April 21, 1996April 21, 1996April 21, 1999 Carl Gutierrez (D)
September 1, 2001January 23, 2003
Benjamin Cruz October 13, 1997April 21, 1999August 31, 2001 Carl Gutierrez (D)
Philip Carbullido October 27, 2000January 23, 2003January 15, 2008 Carl Gutierrez (D)
January 18, 2011January 21, 2014
January 21, 2020January 17, 2023
Robert Torres January 16, 2004January 15, 2008January 18, 2011 Felix P. Camacho (R)
January 21, 2014January 17, 2017
January 17, 2023present
Katherine Maraman February 21, 2008January 17, 2017January 21, 2020 Felix P. Camacho (R)

Retired justices

NameStartEndPrior RolesAppointer
Peter Siguenza April 21, 1996August 31, 2001Chief Justice of Guam (1996–1999, 2001–2003)
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Guam (1999–2001)
Judge of the Superior Court of Guam (1984–1996)		 Carl Gutierrez (D)
Janet Healy Weeks April 21, 1996April 30, 1999Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Guam (1996–1999)
Judge of the Superior Court of Guam (1975–1996)		 Carl Gutierrez (D)
Monessa Lujan April 21, 1996March 15, 1997Associate Justice (1996–1997) Carl Gutierrez (D)
Benjamin Cruz October 13, 1997August 31, 2001Chief Justice of Guam (1999–2001)
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Guam (1997–1999)
Judge of the Superior Court of Guam (1984–1997)		 Carl Gutierrez (D)
Frances Tydingco-Gatewood February 8, 2002October 29, 2006Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Guam (2002–2006)
Judge of the Superior Court of Guam (1994–2001)		 Carl Gutierrez (D)

The Superior Court of Guam

Judges of the Superior Court are appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the Legislature for a term of eight years. If they wish to continue in office, their names are placed on the ballot at a general election. They must garner at least 50 percent plus one favorable vote of the number of cast ballots to remain in office. Judge Richard Benson and Judge Joaquin E. Manibusan were the first to be placed on a ballot. They both received the overwhelming approval of the voters.

The Superior Court is a court of general jurisdiction, and its seven judges preside over criminal, civil, juvenile, probate, small claims, traffic and child support cases brought before them. The hearing officer generally does not preside over all of these subjects, but is utilized predominantly in small claims, family, and traffic matters. In December 2005, the Adult and Juvenile Drug Courts were recognized as courts of record of the Judiciary of Guam. These programs are examples of "therapeutic justice" which focuses on rehabilitation of offenders and their reintegration into society. Judges are assigned to cases on a rotating basis, though one is rotated into assignment as designated Drug Court judge exclusively for a specified period (currently yearly). The Presiding Judge's additional responsibility is primarily procedural and administrative concerns, though formerly the "PJ," as the position is commonly referred to, assigned cases to the various judges.

The current Judges of the Superior Court of Guam are:

Former Judges include:

See also

References

  1. ↑ "48 U.S.C. § 1424–3".
  2. ↑ Judiciary of Guam. "Judicial History" . Retrieved May 4, 2021.
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