Those who commit crimes, he added, “are often destined for a very hard life.”
He recalled that there were individuals who repeatedly appeared before the court and landed in jail.
“That’s a horrible way to live your life,” Munson said.
When asked about sentencing a convicted defendant, he replied: “That’s a very philosophical question.”
He said under the sentencing guidelines, punishment is meted out to deter the defendant and others from committing crime.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons provides services for inmates, like psychological counseling, drug counseling, mental health as well as educational, vocational, or technical training.
“So that when they are released, they can return to be good, productive citizens,” the judge said.
When asked if the 135-month prison term for “ice” trafficking was the stiffest term he imposed in the CNMI, Munson said he once sentenced a defendant to 240 months of imprisonment for bank fraud.
Havoc
He blames “ice” for “wreaking havoc” in the community.
“There was no ‘ice’ when I came here 28 years ago,” he said.
“Ice,” he added, also destroys people’s lives financially.
The increase in spousal and child abuse as well as burglaries and robberies is linked to “ice,” the judge said.
When he first arrived on island, Munson recalled that the population was about 16,000 then.
“It really changed since we came here,” he said.
Diversity
The CNMI’s population reached almost 70,000 in 2000 when Saipan still hosted garment factories.
With development came things and services that were not available before.
“The negative aspect is more crimes and some loss of the culture. But this is a wonderful place to live because of its diverse population,” Munson said.
Chamorro and Carolinian cultures, he added, blend well with those of Japan, China, Russia, Korea, India, Bangladesh and the Philippines.
“Where else could we live with such a great diverse culture? We could learn a lot from their cultures,” Munson said.
Separate building
When asked about the recommendation to have a separate federal courthouse building on island, Munson replied: “I have been trying for 20 years to accomplish that. There’s been a couple of times the federal government would have looked at it, only to fall apart later, maybe because of budgetary concerns.”
Asked about his coming retirement, he said: “I have mixed feelings. I have had a wonderful experience in Micronesia and Saipan for the past 28 years. However, I am also anxious to start a new chapter of my life.”
He still has no firm plans regarding what he would do as a private citizen.
“But I will rest a little bit. I’ll be reading and writing. I would like to do that. I’m moving to an area where there are lakes and rivers. I plan to go fly fishing,” Munson said.
He and his wife will move to Idaho.
Back in the day
Munson first arrived on island on Sept. 1, 1982.
“It was 6 a.m.,” he recalled.
He remembered being met at the tarmac by the staff of the High Court of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.
At the hotel, Munson asked a lady employee if it was always 91 degrees Fahrenheit on island. She said yes.
“I was very affected by the heat. But it wasn’t that hot all the time after a few weeks,” Munson said.
He came from a private firm in California with 80 lawyers, and his specialty included medical malpractices, legal malpractices, and airline malpractices.
Wonderful
Asked about his 28 years as federal judge in the CNMI, he said: “It was a wonderful experience. Great bar of lawyers. I feel a lot of people who came before the court received a good, just remedy.”
His advice to his successor: “Be prepared to be a hermit.”
According to Munson, “As a judge in a small community, it is difficult to socialize because so many people come before the court.”
A judge has to recuse himself when one person who became a good friend comes before the court.
“It’s very difficult on the island where there is only one judge,” he said.
Munson said he has “volunteered to act as senior judge in hope to be assigned to this court in the future if I’m needed.”
Distinct pleasure
He said he and his wife “have had a great, wonderful time and experience living here. We wish to frequently return since we made some wonderful friends.”
He added, “It’s a distinct pleasure to serve the people of the NMI and I wish them the very best.”
Asked about the lessons he learned on island, Munson said: “Patience. You are never alone. And there are no secrets on an island.”
Presidential appointee
The judge of the United States District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands is appointed by the nation’s president with the advice and consent of the U.S. Senate.
The judge serves a 10-year term.
The islands’ first district judge was Alfred Laureta, who served from 1978 until 1988.
His successor, Munson, was nominated by President Ronald Reagan and confirmed by the Senate in 1988.
Munson was nominated for a second 10-year term by President Bill Clinton and was confirmed by the Senate in 1998.
Munson received his undergraduate degree in 1964 and an M.A. in 1965 from Long Beach State College.
He received his Ed.D. degree in 1970 from the University of Southern California, and J.D. degree from Loyola University School of Law in 1975.
Prior to and immediately following law school, Munson served as a teacher with the Anglewood Unified School District.
From 1977 to 1978, Munson was an associate with the law firm of Robert S. Talbert & Associates.
From 1978 to 1982, he was an associate with the firm of Kirtland & Packard.
From 1982 to 1988, he was chief justice of the High Court of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, which was under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of the Interior.
