CHIEF Judge Ramona V. Manglona of the District Court for the NMI has clarified her initial order that granted attorney Stephen Woodruff’s petition for reinstatement to practice in federal court.
In her written order on Thursday, Judge Manglona said, by “conditions,” she meant the payment of the applicable attorney fees.
“Given that he was suspended rather than disbarred in this court, Woodruff need only pay the biennial renewal fees. On October 15, 2021, Woodruff paid his biennial renewal fees,” she said.
Judge Manglona reiterated her previous order that Woodruff is reinstated to practice law in the district court.
She also directed the clerk of court to issue a certificate of good standing to Woodruff.
On Dec. 30, 2021, Woodruff filed a request for an entry of order in his petition for reinstatement and release of certificate of good standing.
Woodruff’s petition for reinstatement to practice was granted by the federal court on Oct. 5, 2021.
According to Woodruff, “the inclusion in the minutes of the qualifier ‘with conditions’ created an ambiguity that did not fully square with his recollection of the hearing.” However, he said he also “expected the anomaly to be resolved by entry of the formal order anticipated in the near future.”
When the order was not issued two weeks later, Woodruff requested a certificate of good standing from the clerk of court.
On Sept. 30, 2021 the CNMI Supreme Court granted Woodruff’s petition for reinstatement to practice.
The high court noted that Woodruff had been reinstated in Hawaii and continued to practice before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
The Supreme Court of Hawaii issued an order reinstating Woodruff to practice on July 23, 2021 on the condition that he contact the Hawaii State Bar Association to ensure he was in compliance with all the requirements for attorneys practicing in the state.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit imposed an 18-month period of probation on Woodruff on Nov. 5, 2017. His motion to be restored to unrestricted practice was granted on Nov. 12, 2020 based on his compliance with the rules and orders applicable to his cases.
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. The district court, for its part, disbarred him from practicing law in the district on March 9, 2018.
Woodruff was accused by a former client of missing the deadline for filing his client’s opening brief, among other things.
In his defense, Woodruff said his client “suffered little or no material harm,” and the client’s “own conduct was not beyond reproach.”
Woodruff also said that “during the period of the representation he was experiencing serious domestic difficulties leading to a marital separation.”
Stephen Woodruff
