HAGÅTÑA – Governor Lourdes A. Leon Guerrero and Lieutenant Governor Joshua F. Tenorio issued a statement Friday on the passing of former Supreme Court of Guam Justice Janet Healy Weeks, calling her a pioneering jurist whose legacy helped build the foundation of Guam’s modern Judiciary.
Weeks was the first woman admitted to the Guam Bar, the first female judge appointed on Guam and in Micronesia, and one of the original justices of the Supreme Court of Guam.
The Judiciary of Guam noted that Weeks served more than two decades as a judge of the Superior Court of Guam before joining the newly created Supreme Court in 1996. Her judicial service extended beyond Guam through her work in the Federated States of Micronesia, the District Court of Guam and the Republic of Palau.
“Some people serve history. Others help shape its direction. Justice Janet Healy Weeks was one of those rare individuals who did both,” Leon Guerrero and Tenorio said in the joint statement. “Guam has lost a pioneering jurist, a woman of extraordinary intellect and integrity, and a public servant whose legacy helped build the foundation of our modern Judiciary.”
The statement said Weeks’ career was marked by fairness, patience, discipline and a deep respect for both the law and the people it exists to serve. She earned the admiration of colleagues, attorneys, court employees and generations of legal professionals who viewed her as a model of professionalism and public service.
Chief Justice Katherine Maraman has formally requested a declaration of mourning and the lowering of flags to half-staff in Weeks’ honor, recognizing her lasting contributions to Guam and the administration of justice.
“We are honored to join the Judiciary of Guam and the people of our island in paying tribute to a woman whose life opened doors for others and strengthened the institutions that continue to serve our community today,” Leon Guerrero and Tenorio said.
The governor and lieutenant governor extended their deepest condolences to Weeks’ family, loved ones, colleagues and all those who had the privilege of learning from her example.
“May she rest in peace, and may her legacy continue to guide the pursuit of justice in Guam for generations to come,” the statement concluded.