(Press Release) — On Tuesday, July 12, the 2022 Judiciary Summer Pre-Law Program concluded with a graduation ceremony at the Guma’ Hustisia in Susupe. Dozens of guests, including Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, Speaker of the House Edmund S. Villagomez, District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona, and Magistrate Judge Heather L. Kennedy, attended the ceremony to celebrate the 19 participants who successfully completed the program.
The program encourages and supports participants who are interested in attending law school. It features intensive law classes, mentoring by experienced attorneys, LSAT workshops, tours of the Guma’ Hustisia and the District Court, and a moot court component in which the participants argue before members of the bench and other lawyers. This year’s program was the ninth conducted since the first one in 1991. About 35 program alumni have graduated from law schools throughout the U.S.
Dean Rose Cuison-Villazor of Rutgers Law School and Professor Eun Hee Han of Georgetown University Law Center, who both grew up on Saipan, respectively taught Property Law and Legal Research and Writing. Dean Cuison-Villazor returned for the third time, having taught in the 2010 and 2014 programs.
The Pre-Law Program was organized by a committee comprised of judiciary staff as well as attorneys Anthony H. Aguon, Carmen V. Borja, Frances T. Demapan, Jose P. Mafnas Jr., and Nicole Torres-Ripple. Supreme Court law clerk Benjamin Schwartz served as program coordinator.
The attorney-mentors were Judy T. Aldan , Keith H. Ketola, Rellani B. Ogumoro, Stephen Anson, Jose P. Mafnas Jr., Tyler Scott, Frances T. Demapan, Samuel Mok, Joaquin DLG Torres, J. Robert Glass, Tina Ngo, Nicole Torres-Ripple, Matthew Gregory, Jacqueline Nicolas, Rochelle L. Vazquez, Matthew J. Holley, Mary E. Novakovic, Michael A. White and Hunter Hunt.
Pre-Law participants front row, from left: Daniel Isaac P. Brown, Peter Paul H. Camacho, Lallane Casugay Guiao, Professor Eun Hee Han, Professor Rose Cuison-Villazor, Rep. Celina Roberto Babauta, Emma Rae Timmons, Josephine N. Estrada, Victoria Simone Bellas, and Weena Gwendolyn Taitano Iguel. Middle row, from left, Daeyoung “Daniel” Huh, Lisa Phair, Rebecca C. White, Brianna Concepcion Hunter, Ardel R. Ciolo, Zeno Camacho Deleon Guerrero, Jr., Ikluk T. Masayos, Mikiotti N. Evangelista, and Michael Emil A. Johnson. Back row, from left, District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona, Justice Perry B. Inos, Chief Justice Alexandro C. Castro, Justice John A. Manglona, and Magistrate Judge Heather L. Kennedy. Not pictured: Olivia Yuri T. Hirsh and Charlie Alayan Rivera.
On stage, from left, District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona, Judge Kenneth L. Govendo, Justice Perry B. Inos, Justice John A. Manglona, Chief Justice Alexandro C. Castro, Professor Eun Hee Han, Dean Rose Cuison-Villazor, and Director of Courts Sonia A. Camacho.
Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, first lady Diann T. Torres and Speaker Edmund S. Villagomez pose for a photo with judiciary officials and Pre-Law participants.
