Carbullido delivers State of the Judiciary

by Sabrina Salas Matanane

Guam - Aside from recognizing the island's dignitaries and court employees, and ways the Judicial Branch is improving services to be more efficient, Guam Supreme Court Chief Justice F. Philip Carbullido was keeping it real during his State of Judiciary Address. "We have often heard government leaders speak of this challenge or that challenge.... pronouncing that we will operate better when times get better, but the reality is ladies and gentlemen, that these challenging times are the new normal," he said.

A new normal that includes cash shortfalls, cutbacks on funding, and consequently strained services and operations said the chief justice. "We simply do not have the luxury of saying that things will get better, because we truthfully don't know when that will happen. We must instead find ways to do better now," he said. This new normal, is a predicament Governor Eddie Calvo has recently announced requires $43 million in General Fund cuts, with the Judiciary, Legislature and the Department of Education to cut $10 million.

Although a staggering 9,200 cases were filed in the Superior Court including 2,000 criminal cases, 1,900 new civil cases, 2,100 small claim cases, 15,000 traffic citations, 1,200 juvenile cases, 482 child support cases, and 878 domestic cases. The chief justice told the governor he would try to do his best to find ways to cut costs even more than the Judiciary has. "Governor as partners with you in this crisis, we will find ways to comply to all extents possible, however to continue to achieve our constitutional and statutory mandates and live up to the expectations of our community, we need your assistance, not just in funding,

Governor Calvo said, "The Judiciary has made a concerted effort to contain costs and with that in mind, he did ask some questions too about how do we move forward and some of that has to do with maybe taking a look at some of the mandates that are being provided and see maybe from aside streamlining in terms of operational costs but looking at the demands of these mandates and seeing how there maybe there has to be a rethink, and with that rethink a possible repeal potential of mandates that are in the books that are adding these costs."

According to the chief justice, no matter which branch they serve it's a shared sense of purpose, pursued with respect and commitment to do their best, which will build a stronger Guam and a stronger community.

"We all serve the people of Guam we work every day so that our community our citizens, will have a tomorrow that lives up to the promise of liberty and justice for us all."