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Maria Teresa Cenzon
2012 - Present
2029
13
Maria Teresa Bonifacio Cenzon is a judge of the Guam Superior Court. She assumed office in 2012. Her current term ends on January 31, 2029.
Cenzon ran for re-election for judge of the Guam Superior Court. She won in the retention election on November 3, 2020.
On November 30, 2020, President Donald Trump (R) nominated Cenzon to the District Court of Guam. Cenzon's nomination was returned to the president at the sine die adjournment of the U.S. Senate on January 3, 2021. President Trump renominated Cenzon on the same day. President Joe Biden (D) withdrew the nomination on February 4, 2021.[1] Click here for more information on Cenzon's federal judicial nomination.
The District Court of Guam is one of the three United States territorial courts. They are created by Congress in accordance with Article IV of the United States Constitution. To learn more about the court, click here.
Judicial nominations and appointments
District Court of Guam
- See also: Federal judges nominated by Donald Trump
On November 30, 2020, President Donald Trump (R) nominated Cenzon to the District Court of Guam.[2] To read more about the federal nominations process, click here.
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| Nominee Information |
| Name: Maria Teresa Cenzon |
| Court: District Court of Guam |
| Progress |
| Returned 34 days after nomination. |
 Nominated: November 30, 2020
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 ABA Rating:
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| Questionnaire: |
| Hearing:
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| QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more) |
| Reported:
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| Confirmed:
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| Returned: January 3, 2021
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| Withdrawn: February 4, 2021
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Nomination
On November 30, 2020, President Donald Trump (R) nominated Cenzon to the District Court of Guam.[2] Cenzon's nomination was returned to the president at the sine die adjournment of the U.S. Senate on January 3, 2021.[3] The president renominated Cenzon on January 3.[4] President Joe Biden (D) withdrew the nomination on February 4, 2021.[1]
Cenzon was nominated to replace Judge Frances Tydingco-Gatewood, whose term expired.[2]
Superior Court of Guam (2012-present)
Cenzon became a judge on the Superior Court of Guam in 2012. She was the first Filipina-American to serve on the bench in Guam courts.[5] For more information about the Superior Court of Guam click here.
Elections
2020
Guam Superior Court
Maria Teresa Bonifacio Cenzon was retained to the Guam Superior Court on November 3, 2020 with 86.0% of the vote.
Retention Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✔ | Yes |
86.0
|
20,720 | ||
No |
14.0
|
3,366 | |||
Total Votes |
24,086 | ||||
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Education
Cenzon received her B.A. from Marquette University and her J.D. from the Loyola University-Chicago School of Law.[2]
Professional career
Cenzon became a judge on the Superior Court of Guam in 2012. Before that, she was chief legal counsel to the governor of Guam and director of policy, planning & community relations for the Unified Judiciary of Guam. She previously worked in private practice.[2]
Associations
- Former member, Guam Chamber of Commerce
- Former member, Guam Bar Association Board of Governors
- 2008-2012: Secretary
- 2006-2008: Member
- Former member, Board of Directors, Guam Legal Services Corporation Disability Law Center[5]
About the courts
District Court of Guam
| District Court of Guam |
|---|
| Ninth Circuit |
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| Judgeships |
| Posts: 1 |
| Judges: 1 |
| Vacancies: 0 |
| Judges |
| Chief: Frances Tydingco-Gatewood |
| Active judges: Frances Tydingco-Gatewood |
The District Court of Guam is a federal court that has jurisdiction over the territory of Guam. It was established by the Organic Act of Guam in 1950. Appeals of the court's decisions are heard by the United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit.
The court has the same jurisdiction as the United States district courts, including diversity jurisdiction and bankruptcy jurisdiction. Though the court is named "district court," it is not an Article III district court; instead, it is created in accordance with the power granted under Article IV of the United States Constitution.[6]
The judge of the District Court of Guam is an Article IV federal judge who is appointed to a 10-year term, which is renewable. Judges of this court are appointed by the president and are subject to Senate confirmation. Judges may serve more than one term, subject to the standard nominating process.[7]
The District Court of Guam has original jurisdiction over cases filed in Guam. These cases can include civil and criminal matters that fall under federal law as well as bankruptcy cases. The only courthouse is located in Hagatna, Guam. Decisions of the court are appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit at the James R. Browning Federal Courthouse in San Francisco, California.
To read opinions published by this court, click here.
Superior Court of Guam
The Superior Court of Guam was created by the Legislature of Guam with the Court Reorganization Act of 1974. The law gave the Superior Court jurisdiction on cases arising out of Guam laws.[8]
To read opinions published by this court, click here.
The federal nomination process
Federal judges are nominated by the president of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. There are multiple steps to the process:
- The president nominates an individual for a judicial seat.
- The nominee fills out a questionnaire and is reviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
- The Senate Judiciary Committee holds a hearing with the nominee, questioning them about things like their judicial philosophy, past rulings or opinions, etc.
- As part of this process, the committee sends a blue slip to senators from the home state in which the judicial nomination was received, allowing them to express their approval or disapproval of the nominee.
- After the hearing, the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote to approve or return the nominee.
- If approved, the nominee is voted on by the full Senate.
- If the Committee votes to return the nominee to the president, the president has the opportunity to re-nominate the individual.
- The Senate holds a vote on the candidate.
- If the Senate confirms the nomination, the nominee receives a commission to serve a lifelong position as a federal judge.
- If the Senate does not confirm the nomination, that nominee does not become a judge.
See also
External links
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Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Congress.gov, "PN27 — Maria Teresa Bonifacio Cenzon — The Judiciary," accessed February 8, 2021
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 WhiteHouse.gov, "Four Nominations Sent to the Senate," November 30, 2020
- ↑ Under Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate, pending nominations are returned to the president if the Senate adjourns sine die or recesses for more than 30 days.
- ↑ WhiteHouse.gov, "Thirty Nominations Sent to the Senate," January 3, 2021
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Judiciary of Guam, "Superior Court of Guam - Judges," accessed November 16, 2020
- ↑ uscourts.gov, "Territorial Courts in the Federal Judiciary," accessed November 27, 2013
- ↑ United States District Court of Guam, "History of the District Court of Guam," accessed December 4, 2013
- ↑ Judiciary of Guam, "Judicial History," accessed November 16, 2020
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