AMONG the three branches of government, the judicial branch is supposed to be the one expected to uphold its independence and objectivity by avoiding close association with individuals, their families and/or friends who are involved in active court cases.
But Rep. Stanley T. Torres is alleging that such was not the situation when CNMI Supreme Court Justice Alexandro C. Castro recently appointed Judge Albert Lamorena of Guam to sit in on the Bank of Saipan case.
In a privilege speech at the House of Representatives yesterday, Torres said he was “disturbed” by Castro’s decision. He said the sister of one of the bank’s directors, attorney David J. Lujan, is the chamber clerk for Lamorena’s court.
“Castro’s decision is unethical as Judge Lamorena could be in a conflict of interest situation if he sits on the (Bank of Saipan) case,” Torres told House members.
He also questioned Castro’s ethics when the justice allegedly accepted a $250,000 donation from Lujan in Dec. 1999 to establish the Hillblom Memorial Foundation.
“This donation…was paid out of Mr. Lujan’s minor client, Junior Hillbroom, on whose alleged behalf the donation was made,” he said.
Torres further alleged that the “original plan” was for Castro “to have control over at least $100,000 of this money for the law library.”
“To take this money from a minor child who does not live on Saipan and to take it from a lawyer during the on-going litigation is improper,” said Torres.
He said Castro has displayed a close association with Lujan and thus “cannot sit in an unbiased manner on any case (involving) Lujan.”
Torres showed photos of Castro and Lujan having lunch with other individuals involved in the donation of Junior Hillbroom’s money.
He also showed a copy of a May 9 letter signed by Diane K. Bergeron, temporary trustee of the Hillblom Memorial Foundation, which invited Lujan and other individuals to meet with her and Castro at a hotel on May 12 so they could “input ideas and make decisions on who the directors of the trust will be.”
