Atty. Janet King
‘The greatest lesson in true success comes from supporting each other, because that is how we create more opportunities, more success, and more meaningful change.’
<p style=”text-align: right;”><strong>—Janet King</strong>
By Jayvee Vallejera
YOU’D think building your own law firm is already a feat by itself. But doing it singlehandedly and keeping it running for nearly 17 years now while balancing the demands of motherhood and child care brings that feat to another level.
That’s some top-shelf balance, and that is what Janet King thinks may be one of the most challenging yet fulfilling achievements of her life.
King, who singlehandedly built the King Law Office from the ground up while raising her children, Kate and Samuel, cites this as one of her proudest achievements.
“Sometimes I felt like I was not doing enough in either role, but I learned that success is about showing up, doing your best, and giving yourself grace in the process,” she said. She credits the support of her family, mentors, and some of her colleagues for this balancing act.
King, who obtained her law degree from the University of Nebraska College of Law, was admitted to practice law in Hawai’i, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands and is licensed to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals (Ninth Circuit), and the U.S. District Courts (Hawai’i, Northern Mariana Islands).
She pursued her law degree while also earning a master’s degree in Political Science.
Lifetime values
King, who was born on Tinian, credits growing up in that “small but special place that gave me my roots” for embedding in her the values that would later go on to shape her life. She said her parents had high hopes for her, but never pushed her to fit their own idea of success.
“The only thing they insisted on was that I get an education and that after I was done with school, I must always be compassionate to those less fortunate. That lesson has stayed with me in everything I do,” she said.
It was at the all-girls Catholic school in Guam, the Notre Dame High School, where King learned two things: to balance academics with athletics, and to develop a deep appreciation for humility.
“Through them [nuns who taught at Notre Dame High School], I learned that success is not just about personal achievements but about how much you can give back, especially to those in need. Their lessons stayed with me, shaping the way I approach my work and my responsibility to others,” she said.
At Wellesley College, King said she was surrounded by strong, brilliant women who challenged her to think critically and push herself. Many of them are still her closest friends to this day.
It was after law school when King decided to come home to the CNMI to be with her parents.
While working as an assistant public defender in the CNMI, that reinforced in her the importance of fairness and the need for strong advocacy, especially for those who do not have the means to fight for themselves. That led to her setting up the King Law Office, her solo practice. That was nearly 17 years ago.
She concedes that the journey has not always been easy, yet “I am grateful for every opportunity I have had, and I know that none of it would have been possible without the people who supported and encouraged me along the way.
“My journey is not just my own, and I carry that with me in my work, always striving to help others find their own paths forward,” she said.
Obstacles
King acknowledges that women in law face challenges such as leadership opportunities, gender biases, and balancing professional and personal responsibilities.
Despite these, she said, women attorneys in the CNMI and Guam have built careers in the judiciary, government, legal advocacy, and private practice, and a few have broken barriers as judges and government leaders, while others contribute through legal representation, advocacy, and community service.
Their work continues to shape the legal system and promote justice, she said, while paving the way for future generations.
Inspirations
In celebration of Women’s Month and International Women’s Day, King recognized these women helping shape the CNMI’s legal profession:
Judiciary
- Judge Ramona Villagomez Manglona – Chief Judge, U.S. District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands; first Chamorro woman federal judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands; first woman to serve as Attorney General of the CNMI; first woman Deputy Attorney General of the CNMI; second woman to become an Associate Judge of the CNMI Superior Court.
- Judge Frances Marie Tydingco-Gatewood – Chief Judge, U.S. District Court of Guam; first Chamorro woman federal judge of the U.S. District Court of Guam; first Chamorro woman Assistant Attorney General on Guam; first Chamorro woman Chief Prosecutor of the Criminal Division of the Attorney General’s Office; first Chamorro woman judge in the Superior Court of Guam; former Associate Justice of the Guam Supreme Court.
- Judge Heather L. Kennedy – U.S. Magistrate Judge in the U.S. District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands and its Clerk of Court; former Executive Director of the CNMI Law Revision Commission and General Counsel to the NMI Judiciary; served as Legal Counsel and Equal Employment Opportunity Officer for the Public School System.
- Judge Virginia Sablan-Onerheim – First woman to become an Associate Judge of the CNMI Superior Court.
- Judge Teresa K. Kim-Tenorio – Third woman to become an Associate Judge of the CNMI Superior Court; also presides over the CNMI Drug Court.
- Judge Lillian Ada Tenorio – Fourth woman to become an Associate Judge of the CNMI Superior Court; former Deputy Attorney General of the CNMI; also presides over the Mental Health Court.
Government Legal Leadership
- Alicia Limtiaco – First woman to serve as U.S. Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands; first woman elected as Attorney General of Guam.
- Leilani V. Lujan – First Chamorro woman to serve as Federal Public Defender for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.
- Pamela Brown – First woman to serve as Federal Ombudsman for the CNMI.
- Hyun Jae Lee – General Counsel, NMI Supreme Court; Director, CNMI Bar Association.
- Jacqueline A. Nicolas – former Chief Administrative Hearing Officer, CNMI Department of Labor.
- Catherine J. Cachero – Pro Tem Administrative Hearing Officer, CNMI Department of Labor; private attorney.
- Carmen Borja – Executive Director, Commonwealth Law Revision Commission; Director, CNMI Bar Association.
- Ashley L. Kost – Former Assistant U.S. Attorney for Guam and the NMI; legal counsel, CNMI Office of the Public Auditor.
- Judy T. Aldan – Clerk of the NMI Supreme Court.
- Gretchen Smith and Nicole Torres-Ripple – Both legal counsels for the NMI Settlement Fund, also play a vital role in government legal affairs. Torres-Ripple additionally serves as the Ninth Circuit Lawyer Representative for the CNMI.
- Antonette Villagomez – Senior Legal Counsel, CNMI Legislative Bureau.
CNMI Office of the Attorney General – Civil Division
- Alison Nelson – Chief of the Civil Division.
- Assistant Attorneys General: Kassandra Knoff, Lucia Blanco-Maratita (first woman from Tinian admitted to the CNMI Bar), Rachel Blue, Rebecca Wiggins, Rellani Ogumoro, and Tina Ngo.
CNMI Office of the Attorney General – Criminal Division
- Assistant Attorneys General: Frances Demapan and Heather Barcinas.
CNMI Office of the Public Defender
- Assistant Public Defenders: Karie Comstock, Molly Dennert, Emily Thomsen (also a CNMI Bar Association Director), and Charlene Brown.
Law Clerks
U.S. District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands
- Hannah Robertson
- Michel Li
CNMI Supreme Court
- Isabele M. Castle
- Paige E. Lehman
CNMI Superior Court
- Sage Wagner
Legal Advocacy & Leadership
- Charity Hodson – President, Northern Mariana Islands Bar Association; private practice attorney.
- Jane Mack – Directing Attorney, Marianas Office of Micronesian Legal Services Corp.; served as a Special Judge in the Commonwealth Courts.
- Maya Kara – Former Acting Attorney General, legal counsel to the CNMI governor, and past CNMI Bar Association president.
- Jeanne Rayphand – Legal counsel, Northern Marianas Protection and Advocacy Systems, Inc.
- Kimberlyn King-Hinds – NMI Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives; member of the 119th U.S. Congress.
- Deanne C. Siemer – First woman admitted to the CNMI Bar; co-author of An Honorable Accord: The Covenant Between the Northern Mariana Islands and the United States.
Private Practice Attorneys in the CNMI
- Viola Alepuyo – First Carolinian woman admitted to the CNMI Bar; Law Office of Viola Alepuyo
- Catherine Cachero – Seman Law Offices, LLC
- Alexis Fallon – Fallon Law Office
- Kate Fuller – Law Office of Kate B. Fuller
- Dayla Go – Attorney at Law
- Charity Hodson – Law Office of Charity R. Hodson
- Shelli Neal – SN Consulting & Legal Services
- Rosemond Santos-Sword – Santos Law LLC
- Marcia K. Schultz – Marianas Legal Strategy Group LLC
- Bonnie Smith – Attorney at Law
- Anthea Yuan – Dotts Law Office
Yes, despite their achievements, women still do not have an easy path, King said, but they succeed by working hard, holding the door open for others, mentoring younger attorneys, and showing by example that women belong in every part of the legal system.
“For me, overcoming obstacles has meant finding strength in the work I do, knowing that advocacy is more than just a profession. It is a responsibility. It has meant learning to push forward even when the path is difficult, leaning on the wisdom of those who paved the way, and, most importantly, making sure that I also lift others up along the way,” she said.
The growing presence of women in the judiciary, government, and legal practice is proof that progress is happening, King said, but it is not just about breaking barriers.
“It is about making sure that the next generation has fewer to break.”
Beauty queen
King is not only making her mark in the field of law. Even before entering that field, King already made a name for herself as Miss Northern Marianas Universe in 2001. She never saw herself entering a pageant, but saw this as one of the best opportunities for personal growth.
“Growing up, I was an ugly duckling, not social, and always stuck in a book, so stepping onto a pageant stage was completely outside my comfort zone,” she said.
What started as a chance to represent Tinian in the local pageant snowballed into the Northern Marianas on a larger stage. “It was a meaningful experience, full of moments that built confidence and taught me humility.”
Her long-term passion, though, was law, and she chose this field because she wanted to help people navigate complex legal issues, stand up for their rights, and ensure fairness in the system.
“Pageantry and law may seem like two completely different worlds, but both require the ability to connect with people and communicate effectively,” she said.
She credits her parents for cheering her on through both experiences. “I am grateful that I get to do what I love, knowing I can make a difference in people’s lives.”
Advice to young girls
King has the following words for young women who aspire to follow in her footsteps: Set your own goals, work hard for what you believe in, and do not let fear of failure stop you.
“Failure is not the opposite of success; it is part of the journey. Every setback teaches you something, makes you stronger, and helps you get closer to your goals.
“The people who succeed are not the ones who never fail but the ones who keep going even when things are hard,” she said.
It is also remembering that success is not just about what you accomplish for yourself, but about how you lift others up too, especially other women.
“There is enough room at the top for all of us,” she said.
King said she has been fortunate to have women who were further along in their paths be generous with their knowledge, encourage her to keep going, and show her the importance of acknowledging and celebrating the achievements of other women.
“The greatest lesson in true success comes from supporting each other, because that is how we create more opportunities, more success, and more meaningful change,” she added.
