Hyun Jae Lee, wearing a mwar, holds a framed copy of a commemorative resolution adopted by the Senate to honor her exemplary service and selfless dedication to the Law Revision Commission and the NMI judiciary. With her in the photo are family members, friends and senators.
THE Senate on Wednesday recognized former CNMI Law Revision Commission Executive Director Hyun Jae Lee for her exemplary service and selfless dedication to the commission and the NMI judiciary.
Lee was presented with a framed copy of Senate Resolution 22-17 by its author and chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Government, Law, and Federal Relations, Sen. Karl R. King-Nabors.
Also present were Lee’s family and colleagues as well as Senate President Jude U. Hofschneider, Senate Floor Leader Vinnie F. Sablan, Sens. Francisco Q. Cruz, Edith Deleon Guerrero, Victor B. Hocog, and Teresita A. Santos.
The resolution recognizes and commends Lee for “her unyielding commitment to serve the Commonwealth and its Legislative and Judicial branches.”
Lee is licensed to practice law in the CNMI and Tennessee. In 2005, she graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor of science degree in psychology from Georgia State University where she was on the Dean’s List and was a Faculty Scholar.
She received her master of law from Handong International Law School, where she graduated magna cum laude and was ranked second in her class.
While in law school, she placed first at the Internal Moot Court Competition, and second in the Philip C. Jessup International Moot Court Competition in the South Korea national rounds.
She also worked on practicums with the United Nations, the CNMI Office of the Attorney General, and human rights and social development organizations in the Philippines.
In 2013, Lee worked as an associate/legal intern at the Law Office of S. Joshua Berger, “where she was able to engage in general practice of law with an emphasis on contract, civil litigation, and administrative law.”
She is a former law clerk to CNMI Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexandro C. Castro and served in this capacity from February 2016 to May 2018.
She later became the CNMI Law Revision Commission executive director. In addition to her duties, “she revised and published the Commonwealth Code and NMI Administrative Code in print and digital formats, codifying laws and revising existing statutes; published head-note and digest [CNMI] Supreme Court decisions in the established CNMI case reporter system in print and digital formats; [and] maintained and provided training of the CNMI Law Revision website.”
In this capacity, she also hired, managed, and supervised professional, clerical, and other staff to assist the commission in carrying out its duties and functions. She also formulated, prepared, and analyzed the commission’s operating budget, and presented periodic updates to commission members.
In the immediate aftermath of Super Typhoon Yutu, Lee opened the doors of her personal residence for the commission to carry out its duties and operations, as well as to meet and discuss with other departments seeking assistance.
In August 2018, Lee became the NMI judiciary general counsel and oversaw its compliance with federal and state law; advised the Supreme Court justices and Judicial Council on official administrative matters; trained justices, judges, managers, and staff on newly implemented court policies and compliances with federal and state laws; provided support to the human resources office; and reviewed court public statements and communications.
The resolution honoring Lee further states that she “has provided admirable and outstanding service to both the NMI judiciary and the CNMI Law Revision Commission by conducting her work in a way that is unlike any other, and by doing so, inspires and captivates those that she has worked with, as well as those who observe the selfless work she does for the betterment of our community.”
