4 minute read
FEATURE
FEATURE I Summer Pre-Law Program
On July 12, 2022, nineteen Pre-Law participants successfully completed the Judiciary Summer Pre-Law Program. The graduation ceremony was held at the Guma' Hustisia Atrium. In attendance were dozens of guests, including Governor Ralph DLG Torres, Speaker of the House Edmund S. Villagomez, and United States District Court Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona and Magistrate Judge Heather L. Kennedy. ARPA supported this program by ensuring sanitation supplies such as face masks and hand sanitizers are readily available for use. The Information Systems Office ("ISO") ensures that sufficient equipment and technical needs are provided for the success of the program. ISO sets up equipment purchased under ARPA including the television monitors, camera, carts, and laptops which are temporarily assigned to the instructors. Other ARPA personnel contributed hours by providing administrative support. See
Advertisement
Exhibit I for Summer Pre-Law Program Brochure and Graduation Programs.
FEATURE I Law in the Community Lecture Series
On July 5, 2022, at 6 p.m., Dean Rose Cuison-Villazor of Rutgers Law School, delivered a lecture titled "The Insular Cases and Citizenship" at the American Memorial Park indoor theater. The lecture outlined an overview of how citizenship is acquired (including in the U.S. territories), insular cases and claims of U.S. citizenship, efforts to overrule the insular cases, and post-insular cases in America and implications of the CNMI. Dean Cuison-Villazor taught property law during the Judiciary Summer Pre-Law Program. On July 7, 2022, at 12 p.m., Professor Eun Hee Han of Georgetown Law School, presented a lecture titled "Cross-Cultural Competency and the Law" at the Assembly Hall of Guma' Hustisia. The lecture was in regards to the new American Bar Association standard which requires law schools to provide an education to law students on bias cross-cultural competency and racism. Professor Han taught legal research and writing during the Pre-Law Program. In preparation for the lecture series, ARPA administration continued to provide sanitation supplies while ISO personnel, also funded under ARPA, spent approximately six (6) hours to ensure smoothness and success of the lecture series. This included setting up equipment purchased under ARPA such as the television monitors, camera, carts, and laptops for the professors use. Other ARPA personnel provided administrative support to the series. The lectures were free and live-streamed on the Judiciary?s Facebook page. The Law in the Community Lecture Series has been made possible in part by a major grant from the Northern Marianas Humanities Council and National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy Demands Wisdom. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in the lectures do not necessarily represent those of the Northern Marianas Humanities Council, National Endowment for the Humanities, NMI Judiciary, or Judiciary Historical Society.
See Exhibit I for Series Flyers.
Judiciary staff pose with Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona and Dean Rose Cuison-Villazor after the lecture series held at the American Memorial Park indoor theater. (July 5, 2022) Pre-Law graduates are joined by Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona, Associate Justice Perry B. Inos, Chief Justice Alexandro C. Castro, Associate Justice John A. Manglona and Magistrate Judge Heather L. Kennedy in the Supreme Court Courtroom. (July 12, 2022)
Office of Adult Probation Supervision pose for a photo with Governor Ralph DLG. Torres, Chief Justice Alexandro C. Castro, Associate Justice Perry B. Inos, Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho, and members from the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs and CNMI Board of Parole. (July 18, 2022)
FEATURE I Junior St at e of America Civics I nst it ut e M icronesia Sit e Visit
On July 18, 2022, the Judiciary held its Pretrial, Probation, and Parole Supervision Week Proclamation Signing at the American Memorial Park indoor theater. Chief Probation Officer Matilde H. Bermudes-Rasa stated, "The Pretrial, Probation and Parole Supervision Week is a Nationwide celebration in every one of the 50 States and Region 18 which includes the CNMI, Guam, American Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, Marshall and the Philippines. Originated in 1999 by the American Probation and Parole Association members, said members lobbied across the Country to make a proclamation for one week in July as Pretrial, Probation and Parole Supervision Week, to recognize the 100,000+ Probation & Parole Professionals also known as 'Agents of Change.' The week-long celebration is to recognize these Probation & Parole Agents of Change for their hard work and dedication in helping the community by improving the lives of the offenders through rehabilitation who are placed on Probation or Parole supervision." ARPA-funded personnel were actively involved in the coordination of the program. Assistant Probation Officer Susan G. Cabrera was the Chairwoman for the event, and Probation Officer I Timothy L. Cruz served as the Master of Ceremony. See Exhibit I for the Proclamation Signing Program.
On July 18, 2022, high school students from the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands visited the Guma' Hustisia for a conversation with the justices and judges. The students were participating in the week-long Civics Institute Micronesia, sponsored by Junior State of America and the Northern Marianas College. ARPA-funded personnel assisted with the administrative and technology support of the site visit. See
Exhibit I for the Welcome Flyer.
Supreme Court justices provided the students with an understanding of the role and responsibilities of the Supreme Court system. (July 18, 2022)
Students gather for a group photo with Director of Courts Sonia A. Camacho, Chief Justice Alexandro C. Castro, Associate Justice John A. Manglona, Associate Justice Perry B. Inos and Judiciary staff in the Supreme Court Courtroom. (July 18, 2022)
