Judge won't impose sanctions against lawyer

by Mindy Aguon

Guam - District Court Chief Judge Frances Tydingco-Gatewood will not impose sanctions on Attorney Stephanie Flores for filing a motion that the court found contained serious legal errors.  In an eight-page decision today, the court noted that she did not find Flores' response to an order to show cause satisfactory or a demonstration of bad faith or misconduct. 

Instead, Tydingco-Gatewood found that Flores had a "serious lapse in judgment".  The court however said she could not overlook the many years she has known Flores to be a competent professional and believes that history entitles Flores to the benefit of the doubt.  

In her analysis, the judge discussed her concerns with the motion for recusal Flores filed on behalf of the Guam Legislature that attempted to have the judge removed from the Ordot consent decree case alleging a conflict of interest.  The judge decided not to impose any sanctions.