Renowned legal scholar shares vision to expand court - KUAM.com-KUAM News: On Air. Online. On Demand.

Renowned legal scholar shares vision to expand court

Posted: Updated:
Courtesy: Twitter Courtesy: Twitter

Over 100 members of the Guam Bar Association participated in the Annual District Conference held on Thursday at the Hilton Resort and Spa. In addition to getting up to date with the law, participants earned continuing legal education credits.

Featured speakers included the Honorable Paul J. Watford from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit as well as nationally recognized legal scholar and regular commentator and legal analyst Professor Jonathan Turley. Turley shared with Guam's legal community his proposal to expand the court.

"My proposal is to expand the court to 19 members. Why do that? Well, I study courts around the world," he theorized. "Now, under my proposal no one would get all these new seats. It would take 20 years. A president would get two new seats every term until we had the full complement of the court. So it would take about 20 years and we would end up with a 19-member court with no president having more than two. Obviously, a president could fill any vacancy that would occur."

Although critics argue that too large a court wouldn't be effective, he disagrees and provided examples of courts around the world.

He added that appellate judges tend to show considerable discipline and there would be no concentration of power.

  • NEWS HEADLINESMore>>

  • Female files complaint against deceased priest

    Female files complaint against deceased priest

    Another clergy sexual abuse lawsuit is filed in the District Court of Guam. According to the federal complaint, J.E.L. alleges she was sexually molested by deceased Capuchin priest, Father John "Jack" Niland who was assigned to the Agat parish. J.E.L. doeMore >>
    Another clergy sexual abuse lawsuit is filed in the District Court of Guam. According to the federal complaint, J.E.L. alleges she was sexually molested by deceased Capuchin priest, Father John "Jack" Niland who was assigned to the Agat parish. J.E.L. doeMore >>

  • Governor declares state of emergency after flooding

    Governor declares state of emergency after flooding

    Governor Eddie Calvo has declared a “State of Emergency” for Guam as a result of flooding that has left roads and bridges impassible and island residents homeless. The Governor has activated the Guam National Guard to assist the Department of More >>
    Governor Eddie Calvo has declared a “State of Emergency” for Guam as a result of flooding that has left roads and bridges impassible and island residents homeless. The Governor has activated the Guam National Guard to assist the Department of More >>

  • Audit questions $50,000 in undeposited bus fairs

    Audit questions $50,000 in undeposited bus fairs

    An audit of the Guam Regional Transit Authority non–appropriated funds is questioning over $50,000 in undeposited bus fares. According to the report, GRTA has no accounting system of the funds, and lacks basic controls to "address typical risks to cMore >>
    An audit of the Guam Regional Transit Authority non–appropriated funds is questioning over $50,000 in undeposited bus fares. According to the report, GRTA has no accounting system of the funds, and lacks basic controls to "address typical risks to cMore >>
    •   
Powered by Frankly