THE CNMI Supreme Court has rescinded the appointment of Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho as special master in the reinstatement proceedings for disbarred attorney Stephen Woodruff, and set a hearing for July 8, 2021.
Unfortunately, Woodruff said, the date conflicts with the schedule for oral arguments in a Ninth Circuit case in which he is a counsel.
He has notified the CNMI Supreme Court about the conflict and asked the District Court for the NMI to set the petition hearing for another date.
On Thursday, Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona continued the matter to July 21, 2021 at 2:30 p.m.
“Woodruff shall continue to provide the court with monthly status reports, to be filed no later than June 19, and July 19, 2021,” the federal judge ordered.
Woodruff may petition the court for an earlier hearing date if good cause is shown, she added.
On Nov. 16, 2020, Woodruff, petitioned the federal court pursuant to Local Disciplinary Rule 18 for reinstatement to practice law before the court following his suspension.
The court held a hearing on Dec. 21, 2020, and continued the matter to Feb. 22, 2021 so that Woodruff could complete his petition for reinstatement with the CNMI bar and demonstrate to the court that he “is qualified to practice law in the district and is worthy of the court’s trust and confidence.”
On Feb. 22, 2021, after hearing Woodruff’s arguments, the court continued the matter to May 19, 2021 so that Woodruff could supplement his petition and demonstrate qualification before the court through reinstatement to any state bar.
To date, however, Woodruff has not yet been reinstated with any state bar, the judge said.
On May 17, 2021, Woodruff filed a supplemental status report informing the court of the status of his reinstatement proceedings with the CNMI Supreme Court and indicating his non-opposition to a continuance of this matter until late July.
In his petition for reinstatement, Woodruff stated that following a period of probation, he was restored to practice unrestricted practice of law in the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on Nov. 12, 2020.
Woodruff was disbarred by the CNMI Superior Court on June 7, 2013.
The disbarment order was affirmed by the CNMI Supreme Court on Dec. 9, 2015.
On Dec. 24, 2015, the District Court for the NMI issued a notice of intent to impose reciprocal discipline and order to show cause.
On Jan. 22, 2016 the CNMI Supreme Court denied Woodruff’s petition for rehearing.
On March 9, 2018, the district court disbarred Woodruff from practicing law in the district.
It was one of his former clients who accused Woodruff of ethical violations of the Model Rules of Professional Conduct.
According to his former client’s complaint, Woodruff had missed the deadline for filing his client’s opening brief without having requested an extension of time, and he also failed to follow up effectively on transcript requests with the district court reporter.
There were also more than a dozen other allegations of similar ethical misconduct in other cases, including nine disciplinary complaints against Woodruff, court documents stated.
In his defense, Woodruff said the courts “procedurally defaulted” on him, adding that he did not have the opportunity to confront the evidence against him, and that he was denied due process.
Stephen Woodruff
