Taisipic v Marion [1996] GUSC 9; 1996 Guam 09 (13 December 1996)

IN THE SUPREME COURT
TERRITORY OF GUAM

GEORGE D. TAISIPIC
Appellee,

vs.

FRANCISCO L. MARION,
Chairman; ROY S. TAIJERON,
Member; JOSE Q. SALAS, Member
MAXINE CHARFAUROS, Member;
MICHAEL P. QUINATA, Chief
Parole Officer; ROBERT D.
CAMACHO, Parole Officer III;
MARIA C. CRUZ, Parole Officer
I; TERRITORIAL PAROLE BOARD;
and EDUARDO C. BITANGA,
Director, Department of Corrections,
Appellants.

Civil Case No. CVA96-008
Filed: December 13, 1996

Cite as: 1996 Guam 9

Appeal from the Superior Court of Guam
Argued and Submitted 26 November 1996
Agana, Guam

Appearing for the Appellant
MARIA G. FITZPATRICK
Assistant Attorney General
Office of the Attorney General
Suite 2-200E, Judicial Center Bldg.
120 West O=Brien Drive
Agana, Guam 96910

Appearing for the Appellee
DANIEL J. BERMAN, Esquire
Law Office of Berman & Berman
Suite 502, Bank of Guam Bldg.
111 Chalan Santo Papa
Agana, Guam 96932

____________________

OPINION

BEFORE: PETER C. SIGUENZA, Chief Justice, JANET HEALY WEEKS, and MONESSA G. LUJAN, Associate Justices.

WEEKS, J.:

[1] Appellants, the Territorial Parole Board, its individual members, various parole officers, and the Director of the Department of Corrections, appeal from an order of the Superior Court, the Honorable Benjamin J.F. Cruz presiding, placing Appellee Taisipic into the Parole Release and Enhancement Plan and Reintegration Activities (APREPARA@) Program pursuant to Taisipic=s petition for writ of habeas corpus. Appellants contend that the Superior Court=s order is erroneous as a grant of habeas corpus relief, and that the order usurps the authority of the Territorial Parole Board in violation of the separation of powers doctrine. We agree with Appellants and reverse the order of the Superior Court.

BACKGROUND

[2]