The largest American judges' organization will be headed by its first executive from a U.S. territory with the election of Supreme Court of Guam Associate Justice Robert J. Torres.
Justice Torres was elected by the members of the American Judges Association as its President-Elect for 2017-2018. An Executive Committee Member of the AJA since 2016, Justice Torres becomes the first member from a U.S. territory selected by a vote of the 3,000 members in the 44 year history of the organization. The election was held on September 14, 2017 during an AJA General Assembly Meeting in Cleveland, Ohio.
“The Judiciary of Guam is very excited for Justice Torres,” said Chief Justice Katherine A. Maraman. “This position is a testament to his commitment to the ideals of the American Judges Association and speaks of the confidence the membership has in the skills of Justice Torres to help grow this important judicial organization.”
Justice Torres was selected to the Executive Board of the AJA in 2016 by then AJA President Russell Otter following his election to the organization’s Board of Governors.
“I am humbled by the vote of the AJA membership as our President-elect,” said Justice Torres. “We must strive to continue to make our members better judges in a larger effort to promote and improve the effective administration of justice both here and across America.”
The AJA is the largest judges’ organization in North America representing all levels of courts and jurisdictions in the United States and Canada.