CNMI Supreme Court Associate Justice John A. Manglona on Tuesday submitted his letter of intent to seek retention on the bench in the Nov. 8 general election.
In his letter, Manglona said as his current term nears its full course, he continues to hold a deep desire to serve the people of the Commonwealth.
“In the past 22 years as a Supreme Court justice, I have worked diligently to serve the interests of our island community,” he said.
In addition to hearing hundreds of cases and authoring opinions both in the Commonwealth Supreme Court and the Supreme Court of Guam, he said much of his time and energy, both on and off the bench, have gone toward modernizing CNMI court operations and spearheading community outreach projects.
Manglona said it is his hope that a third retention will allow him to continue this work with Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexandro C. Castro, Associate Justice Perry B. Inos, the Superior Court judges, and the rest of the judiciary’s leadership and staff.
“I want to extend my sincere appreciation to all voters whose voices provide the guiding light in our islands. I eagerly await the electoral process and the prospect of further judicial service,” he added.
Manglona’s eight-year term will expire in May 2024.
Appointed by former Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio to the high court in 2000, Manglona was retained by 75% of CNMI voters in 2007 and by 78% in 2014.
Born on Rota, Manglona attended Guam Catholic schools and graduated from Father Duenas Memorial School. He received his B.A. in Political Economy from the University of California, Berkeley, and graduated from Creighton University School of Law (J.D.) and the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law (LL.M. in Taxation).
Prior to his appointment to the bench, Manglona was in private practice focusing on probate, corporations, tax and real property transactions.
Manglona is married to District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona, and they have two children.
Also seeking retention this year are Associate Judges Joseph N. Camacho and Wesley Bogdan.
Justice John A. Manglona, who is seeking retention, submitted his letter of intent to Commonwealth Election Commission Executive Director Kayla Igitol on Tuesday.
