| Submission declined on 8 October 2024 by AlphaBetaGamma (talk). This submission is not adequately supported by reliable sources. Reliable sources are required so that information can be verified. If you need help with referencing, please see Referencing for beginners and Citing sources. This submission's references do not show that the subject qualifies for a Wikipedia article—that is, they do not show significant coverage (not just passing mentions) about the subject in published, reliable, secondary sources that are independent of the subject (see the guidelines on the notability of people). Before any resubmission, additional references meeting these criteria should be added (see technical help and learn about mistakes to avoid when addressing this issue). If no additional references exist, the subject is not suitable for Wikipedia.
Where to get help
How to improve a draft
You can also browse Wikipedia:Featured articles and Wikipedia:Good articles to find examples of Wikipedia's best writing on topics similar to your proposed article. Improving your odds of a speedy review To improve your odds of a faster review, tag your draft with relevant WikiProject tags using the button below. This will let reviewers know a new draft has been submitted in their area of interest. For instance, if you wrote about a female astronomer, you would want to add the Biography, Astronomy, and Women scientists tags. Editor resources
|  |
Jose Santos Dela Cruz (born July 18, 1948, at Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands) served as the first chief justice of the Supreme Court of the Northern Mariana Islands from 1989 to 1995. Before that, he served as trial judge on the local Superior Court, from 1985 to 1989.[1] He was the first person of Chamorro ancestry to serve on the bench in the Northern Marianas.
Early life and education
editBorn and raised on Saipan, Dela Cruz attended Mount Carmel Catholic School for grade school and later the Father Duenas Memorial High School on Guam. He received his bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Guam in 1971. He subsequently graduated from the Boalt Hall School of Law at the University of California, Berkeley, in 1974.[1] The same year, he was admitted to practice law before the High Court of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.
Career
editDela Cruz first worked for the Micronesian Legal Services Corporation, a poverty law program for Micronesians, from 1974 to 1978, handling civil, probate and land cases for the islanders. In 1977, he served on the Northern Mariana Islands-Board of Elections in 1977 in preparation for the commonwealth’s first general election under its new constitution. From 1978 to 1981, he served as general counsel for the Marianas Public Lands Corporation. From 1981 to 1983, he served as liaison attorney for the Northern Mariana Islands Commission on Federal Laws, whose members included the late Congressman Phillip Burton of San Francisco.
Dela Cruz served as partner on the law firm Borja & Dela Cruz from 1983 to 1985. His law partner was Jesus (“Jesse”) C. Borja, who later joined him on the NMI Supreme Court bench and thereafter became lieutenant governor of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (“CNMI”).
Dela Cruz served as a trial judge on the local Superior Court from 1985 to 1989, before becoming chief justice of the Supreme Court of the Northern Mariana Islands from 1989 to 1995. As chief justice, he was instrumental in the organization and establishment of the first appellate court for the Northern Mariana Islands in 1989.[2]
Personal Life
editDela Cruz is married to the former Rita Tenorio Sablan. They have three daughters.[1]
Books
editDela Cruz has published three books. His first book, published in 2010, is about the island’s political history with the United States, particularly the CNMI’s first three decades of local self-government. The title of the book is From Colonialism to Self- Government: The Northern Marianas Experience.[1][3] His second book—Lorenzo’s Mind—was published in 2017.[4] His third book entitled The Fundamental Issues Affecting the Northern Mariana Islands was published in 2021.[5]
References
edit- ^ a b c d Dela Cruz, Jose. About the Author. From Colonialism to Self Government The Northern Marianas Experience. January 2010.
- ^ "Former Justices | CNMI Judiciary". The CNMI Judiciary. Retrieved 2024-08-05.
- ^ From Colonialism to Self-Government: The Northern Marianas Experience. Jose S. Dela Cruz. Archived from the original on 2013-06-04. Retrieved 2024-08-05.
- ^ Lorenzo’s Mind. Amazon. Retrieved 2024-08-05.
- ^ Retired chief justice Dela Cruz pens new book about CNMI. Marianas Variety. Retrieved 2024-08-05.