by Mindy Aguon

Guam - Superior Court Judge Steven Unpingco has announced his plans to retire from the bench. In a letter to Chief Justice F. Philip Carbullido, the judge said he intends to step down at the end of the summer once he is able to settle his current caseload.

Once a vacancy is officially announced, the Guam Bar Association will conduct a survey of its members to develop a list of qualified individuals to submit to the governor for his review.

Bar president Cynthia Ecube tells KUAM News the Association normally provides a list of the top five attorneys who their peers believe would make a good addition to the trial court bench. The Governor's Office confirms they will screen any interested individuals as they look for the island's next Superior Court judge.

Unpingco meanwhile has spent the last fourteen years on the trial court bench, handling hundreds of civil and criminal matters.

READ JUDGE UNPINGCO'S RETIREMENT ANNOUNCEMENT