Guam gets first Fil-Am judge

Manila, Philippines — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Friday said that a Filipino-American had been named as the newest judge of the Superior Court of Guam, the first Filipino-American to hold such position.

In its report to the DFA released Friday, the Philippine Consulate General in Agana said that Maria Teresa Bonifacio Cenzon was installed in formal ceremonies held last December 20 at the Superior court of Guam’s Atrium in Hagatna.

Cenzon was nominated to the position by Governor Eddie Calvo in September and her nomination passed the 31st Guam Legislature’s confirmation in November.

Prior to her appointment, Cenzon served as the legal counsel of Calvo, the DFA said.

The DFA noted that Calvo went to the formal ceremonies wearing a barong Tagalog, and quoted Calvo as saying that he felt it important to wear the Philippines’ formal garment as “it is a historic day” for the country.

It said that present during the event were Chief Justice Philip Carbullido, Vice Speaker Benjamin Cruz, incumbent Senators and new Senators-elect, judges of the Superior Court of Guam, Guam government officials, and representatives of the Guam Consular Corps.

Cenzon earned her law degree from the Loyola University Chicago School of Law. She was born in Guam and is the daughter of Ed and Nita Cenzon, who together with their two older sons migrated to Guam from the Philippines in 1969.

Before joining Governor Calvo in 2011, Cenzon was Director of Policy, Planning and Community Relations of the Unified Judiciary of Guam.