Brianna Hunter with Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho.
BRIANNA Hunter, a law student intern with Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho, plans to return to the CNMI after law school and take the local bar exam so she can be an advocate for indigenous rights.
Born and raised on Saipan, her parents are Barbara Hunter and Will Hunter.
“I recently just finished my first year of law school at Cleveland State University’s College of Law,” she said. “I’m here for the summer, and I’m thankful to be interning for Judge Camacho…for several weeks. It is a great experience. I decided to go into law not only because I wanted to be able to come back home and practice, but also because I feel that representation among Pacific Islander women lawyers is important, and growing that representation is important to me personally,” Hunter told reporters on Monday.
Hunter majored in English Language and Literature at Central Washington University and graduated summa cum laude in June 2021.
In 2019, Hunter also graduated summa cum laude when she received her associate’s degree in liberal arts from Northern Marianas College.
Hunter is an alumna of Mount Carmel School where she was among the top students of her class.
In 2022, she attended the 2022 CNMI Judiciary Pre-law Summer Program.
“It was extremely beneficial to get a taste of what law school will be like, and it was fun because it was taught by incredible visiting professors who are from the CNMI,” she added.
She said the pre-law program gave her an opportunity to connect with other people in the community who were also interested in the legal field.
“Building those connections and networking really helped set me up to have a successful first year in law school,” she said.
Asked whether a legal career was her first choice, Hunter said, “I love writing so I love the English subject, and that’s what I knew that I wanted to do…but I believe it was during my time at NMC that I realized that I wanted to become a lawyer.”
As for the legal field she wants to specialize in, Hunter said, “I’m still keeping my option. As I learn from the different classes that I’m taking, I’ve tried to conceptualize in my mind its application to the CNMI, especially with issues regarding indigenous property laws and protections. But I am keeping my options open. One thing I know for sure is that I will be returning to the CNMI to take the bar in 2026.”
Hunter added, “I also want to be an advocate for increasing Pacific Islander, especially women’s, presence in the legal field. I am truly encouraging everyone, newly graduated high school students from the community who are interested in the legal field, to not be afraid to jump in and get started. Participate in next year’s summer pre-law program.”
