Ramona Villagomez Manglona to Continue as Federal Judge in Northern Mariana Islands

Manglona is the first Article IV judge confirmed during Joe Biden's presidency.

The U.S. Senate today held a recorded vote to confirm one individual as an Article IV federal judge. This was the first confirmation of an Article IV judge during the presidency of Joe Biden. Article IV judges oversee federal cases in territories of the United States.

In a 96-2 vote, Ramona Villagomez Manglona was confirmed as a Judge for the U.S. District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands for a term of ten years. This is a reappointment for Manglona as she has served as the district’s sole judge since July 2011.

Manglona fills the seat based in Saipan. Her current term as an Article IV federal judge expired in July 2021. However, she was allowed to continue to serve until she was renominated and confirmed or Biden announced another nominee who was then approved by the Senate.

Manglona was re-nominated to this seat by Biden in September 2023. Before her service on the federal court, she served as Attorney General of the Northern Mariana Islands from November 2022 to May 2003 - becoming the first woman to hold the post. She was then an Associate Judge of the Northern Mariana Islands Superior Court from May 2003 to July 2011.