TWO documents from Guam Judge Albert Lamorena and attorney Richard W. Pierce support the claim of Rep. Stanley T. Torres that CNMI Supreme Court Justice Alexandro C. Castro’s appointment of Lamorena in the Bank of Saipan case is unethical, according to the lawmaker.
Torres, R-Saipan, has accused Castro of making an unethical decision to let Lamorena sit on the case as the sister of one of the bank’s directors, attorney David J. Lujan, is the chamber clerk for Lamorena.
Based on a copy of memorandum dated Jan. 26, 1994, Lamorena disqualified himself from sitting and acting in Civil Case no. 543-89 which involved Lujan’s domestic case vs. Maryann S. Lujan, the attorney’s wife.
Torres said Lamorena made the decision to recuse himself from Lujan’s case as the lawyer’s sister is the judge’s chamber clerk.
Based on another document from the Supreme Court, OA 02-0002-0A, dated May 31, 2002, Pierce, who is the attorney for Bank of Saipan’s receiver, stated that “the sister of Mr. Lujan is the long-time secretary for Presiding Judge Albert C. Lamorena III….”
Pierce also mentioned in the document that Lamorena recused himself in the case of Lujan v. Lujan v. Hemlani—as stated on the memorandum of disqualification that the judge signed in 1994.
“These documents give weight on my accusation on Castro and Lamorena. If Lamorena disqualified himself from an earlier case involving Lujan, he should also disqualify himself from sitting on any bank’s case as he is still employing Lujan’s sister,” said Torres.
He said Castro should also not involve himself in any case that involves the bank as he is sitting pro tem judge in the Larry Hillblom probate. Junior Larry Hillbroom Trust is the bank’s largest shareholder. Lujan is its representative on the board.
