Judges recuse themselves in clergy sex abuse suits

By Haidee V Eugenio
Pacific Daily News
May 2, 2017

http://www.guampdn.com/story/news/2017/05/02/judge-recuse-themselves-clergy-sex-abuse-suits/101144224/

The Guam Judicial Center in Hagåtña is shown in this March 18, 2015, file photo.

While Guam clergy sex abuse lawsuits filed in federal court still need to resolve jurisdiction matters before moving forward, the lawsuits filed in local court continue to deal with judge recusals.

Judges have recused themselves from 12 of 13clergy sex abuse lawsuits filed in local court from March through April. Seven of eight Superior Court of Guam judges filed disqualification notices related to 12 lawsuits as of April 26, documents from the Judiciary of Guam show.

The recusals stem from conflict or potential conflict of interest, mainly because of the judges’ relationships with either the plaintiffs or the defendants.

The plaintiffs include former altar boys and former Boy Scouts who allege they were sexually abused by priests. The defendants include the Archdiocese of Agana and its clergy, the Boy Scouts of America and the Capuchin Franciscans.

In some cases, the judges cited ties to several members of the Neocatechumenal Way, such as Judge Anita A. Sukola, or the Concerned Catholics of Guam, in the case of Judge Vernon Perez.

Judge Elyze Iriarte, said in an April 12 disqualification memo that a member of her household has initiated a lawsuit against the archdiocese, the Boy Scouts and its Aloha Council Chamorro District, and former priest Louis Brouillard.

“Because my impartiality as a judge may reasonably be questioned in this case, I will disqualify myself from these proceedings,” she said.

Magistrate Judge Alberto E. Tolentino and Magistrate Judge Benjamin Sison could be assigned as substitute judges if all the eight Superior Court judges disqualify themselves, said Clynt Ridgell, director of Policy Planning and Community Relations at the Judiciary of Guam.

So far, 19 disqualification notices for one to five cases have been filed by each of seven judges, based on court documents — Presiding Judge Alberto C. Lamorena, Judge Vernon P. Perez, Judge Maria Cenzon, Judge Elyze Iriate, Judge Michael Bordallo, Judge Anita Sukola, and Judge Arthur Barcinas.

Judge Linda Ingles, as of April 21, didn't have any disqualification memos filed.

The latest case in local court, filed on April 19 by M.S., does not have any judge recusals as of April 26.