Guam Justices Serve as Pro Tempore on NMI Supreme Court

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Justices pro tempore play a vital role in maintaining the integrity and efficiency of the judicial system. Appointed temporarily to hear specific cases, they step in when a permanent justice has a conflict of interest, ensuring that justice is served without delay.

At the third quarter appellate sessions held on August 13-15, the NMI Supreme Court welcomed Chief Justice Robert J. Torres Jr. and Justice F. Philip Carbullido of the Guam Supreme Court who served as justices pro tempore. Chief Justice Torres has served on the Guam Supreme Court for over twenty years and has participated in more than forty cases as a justice pro tempore in the NMI Supreme Court. Justice Carbullido brings twenty-five years of experience from the Guam Supreme Court and has also regularly served in a pro tempore capacity.

Their presence underscores the strong judicial collaboration between Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands and highlights the importance of experienced jurists in upholding the rule of law across jurisdictions.