THREE more Superior Court judges have issued self-recusal orders from the lawsuit filed by independent Sen. Paul A. Manglona, and Saipan residents Carmen Patricia Deleon Guerrero and Bruce Lee Jorgensen who are requesting a temporary restraining order to stop the Senate impeachment proceedings against Gov. Ralph DLG Torres.
The Senate impeachment hearing that started on May 13 will resume Monday.
Presiding Judge Roberto C. Naraja, in his recusal order, said he is a close relative of one of the plaintiffs (Deleon Guerrero) and his impartiality might be questioned.
Associate Judge Wesley Bogdan disqualified himself because he served as the former legal counsel for the governor, and is a longtime friend of one of the plaintiffs, Jorgensen.
As for Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho, he said a conflict of interest exists with him handling the case because his wife, attorney Viola Alepuyo, also represented the governor.
On Wednesday, Associate Judges Teresa Kim-Tenorio and Kenneth L. Govendo issued a recusal order disqualifying themselves from the case saying that their impartiality might be questioned.
As of Friday afternoon, the Superior Court had not issued an order granting or denying the TRO request.
The plaintiffs are asking the court to void the Senate impeachment rules which the House leadership said were “unfair.”
On Jan. 12, 2022, by a vote of 15 to 4 with 1 abstention, the Democrat-Independent-led House of Representatives impeached the Republican governor on allegations of felonies of theft, corruption and neglect of duty. He has denied the charges.
At least six of the nine senators must vote to convict the governor who will then be removed from office. Six of the nine senators are Republicans.
