by Mindy Aguon

Guam - Superior Court Judge James Canto doesn't believe he needs to disqualify himself from presiding over Kyle Blas' criminal case. The defense filed an objection to canto presiding over the case arguing the judge must recuse himself because of his current personal relationship with a prosecutor from the Attorney General's Office.

Attorney Randy Cunliffe questioned the judge's ability to be fair and impartial after learning that the judge sat in on proceedings where his girlfriend was presenting arguments to another judge and she sat in on cases he was presiding over.

In his response filed late this afternoon the judge says his romantic relationship with Richelle Yu is no secret, as it has been open and public and "there is nothing improper about it whatsoever". Canto says Yu does not appear before his court as a prosecuting attorney of record on any criminal case and he maintains he has no personal bias for or against the prosecution for the same reason he doesn't favor the criminal defense bar even though he is a former assistant public defender and a criminal defense attorney for 15 years.

The judge says he took an oath to be fair, impartial, and free from bias and prejudice, and he takes that duty and integrity of his office most seriously. He goes on to state there were no facts demonstrating any purported bias just mere suspicions, assumptions and conclusions.

A similar objection was filed by Norman Camacho James' criminal case, however, the judge was just served on Wednesday so he has another week to decide if he will preside over the case.

Attorney General Leonardo Rapadas meanwhile is withholding comment on the matter, saying they are reviewing the objections that have been filed and are waiting for the reaction from the court.