Gov. Arnold I. Palacios, right foreground, swears in Superior Court Associate Judge Lilian A. Tenorio, left, while her husband, Edward Tenorio, and their sons, Christopher and Andre, look on during the investiture ceremony in Courtroom 223-A at the Guma’ Hustisia on Wednesday. Also in the photo are Associate Judge Kenneth Govendo and Presiding Judge Robert C. Naraja.
GOVERNOR Arnold I. Palacios on Wednesday swore in Superior Court Associate Judge Lilian Ada Tenorio’s during an investiture ceremony at the Guma’ Hustisia.
Tenorio succeeds former Associate Judge Wesley Bogdan, who retired in December.
In her address, Tenorio thanked CNMI Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexandro Castro, Superior Court Presiding Judge Robert Naraja, and the judiciary staff for organizing the investiture on such a short notice.
She was also grateful to Governor Palacios and Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang for placing their confidence in her, and the Senate for voting unanimously to confirm her nomination.
Quoting the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’ Connor, she said, “We don’t accomplish anything in this world alone.”
She added, “I have received in full measure, support and respect from all corners of the judicial branch — from the justices, judges, administrative managers, the clerks, and the court marshals. They’ve been so helpful and so welcoming. Thank you.”
Tenorio said “the journey to my presiding in this courtroom was made with many helping hands along the way, from mentors, work colleagues and professors.”
She thanked the late Maya Kara, who was the House legal counsel in the 1990s, for encouraging her to go into law.
It was Kara who helped her start a journey “that continues to unfold today,” Tenorio said.
When she applied to law school, one of her recommendations came from retired Chief Justice Jose Dela Cruz. “I’m so grateful to him for taking the time to write that letter,” she said.
Governor Palacios, for his part, said he was certainly honored when asked to administer Tenorio’s oath, adding that he has known her since he was member of the Legislature.
He knows her capacity and he remembers that Tenorio always advised him against things that she believed were not constitutional or not good policy.
He said it was a privilege and honor to appoint her to the trial court.
Also attending the investiture ceremony were Judge Tenorio’s husband Edward and their sons Christopher and Andre, Lt. Gov. Apatang, Speaker Edmund S. Villagomez, Attorney General Edward Manibusan, District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona, District Court for the NMI Magistrate Judge Heather L. Kennedy, retired Chief Justice Jose S. Dela Cruz, Justice Perry Inos, Guam Justice F. Philip Carbullido, Associate Judge Joseph Camacho, Associate Judge Teresa Kim-Tenorio, Associate Judge Kenneth Govendo, Guam Superior Court Judge John C. Terlaje, Guam Superior Court Judge Arthur Barcinas and retired Judge Wesley Bogdan.
