SUPERIOR Court Judge Pro Tempore Arthur Barcinas has scheduled a virtual hearing and a status conference for July 28 at 1 p.m. for the Office of the Attorney General’s misconduct in public office case against former Gov. Ralph DLG Torres.
Judge Barcinas on Tuesday ordered the parties to contact the clerk of court beforehand in order to request a link to the virtual hearing.
He previously vacated the jury trial scheduled for June 5 because of some unresolved pretrial issues, such as the defense motion to disqualify the special prosecutor, James Robert Kingman.
Judge Barcinas has not yet issued a new trial schedule.
Recently, he granted the defense motion to quash the special prosecutor’s subpoena to the Bank of Guam regarding the bank records of the former governor.
According to the judge, the special prosecutor’s pro hac vice admission “was granted for the purpose of prosecuting this case; it was not for the purpose of investigating Torres beyond the scope of this case.”
Following the ruling, Kingman withdrew the 38 additional charges he had wanted the court to allow against Torres, to include the initially charged Count XIV: Contempt, and Counts XV-LI, alleging Misconduct in Public Office, and Perjury pertaining to first class travel, among others.
On April 8, 2022, the Office of the AG filed a criminal case against the former governor, alleging 12 counts of misconduct in public office and one count of theft relating to the issuance of airline tickets for business class, first class, or other premium class travel for himself and/or Diann T. Torres, his wife.
The case also alleged one count of contempt for failure to appear in compliance with a legislative subpoena.
The former governor has denied the charges. He is represented by attorneys Viola Alepuyo, Anthony Aguon, Victorino Torres, and Matthew Holley.
Judge Arthur Barcinas
