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Prior Federal Judicial Service:
None
Professional Career History:
Frances' first legal foray was as the law clerk for the Honorable Forest W. Hanna, Presiding Judge of the Jackson County Circuit Courts in Kansas City, Missouri, from 1983 to 1984.
From 1984 to 1988, Frances became the first Chamoru woman assistant attorney general here on Guam. During this time period, she earned a reputation for being a tough, yet fair prosecutor. She prosecuted many major felonies including murder, robbery, rape and drug cases.
She was an assistant prosecutor with the Jackson County Prosecutor's Office, Missouri from 1988-1990. During this time, Frances prosecuted major felony cases including homicides and drugs and served as the Trial Team Leader for the Sex Crimes Unit. She supervised several attorneys and staff members while serving as the Trial Team Leader. In 1990, Frances returned home to become Guam's first Chamoru woman Chief Prosecutor and served in that capacity until 1994. She supervised many lawyers and staff of the Prosecution Division while at the same time handling a substantial felony case load. She worked as a designated Federal Prosecutor at the United States Attorney’s Offices on Guam from 1985-1988 and 1990-1994 and in Kansas City, Missouri from 1989-1990.
In 1994, Frances was appointed to a trial judge position in the Superior Court of Guam by then-Governor Joseph F. Ada who recognized her fairness and tireless dedication in seeking justice as Guam's Chief Prosecuting Attorney. The appointment of Frances Tydingco-Gatewood is a source of much pride for our island community because as a daughter of Guam, she is its first Chamoru woman judge. The 22nd Guam Legislature unanimously confirmed Frances Tydingco-Gatewood to the Superior Court. Judge Gatewood has authored hundreds of decisions and orders as a trial judge. She has presided over numerous cases including high profile criminal cases, multi-party complex civil litigation cases, family court, juvenile court, traffic court, and probate matters. She presided over the most complex civil litigation trial (Royal Palm Resort lawsuit) in the Pacific Rim. This particular trial has took place in one of the most technologically advanced courtrooms in the world.
In addition to her local trial experience of seven and a half years at the Superior Court of Guam, Frances Tydingco-Gatewood, also possesses federal judicial trial experience. For the past ten years, she has served as a designated federal judge for the District Court of Guam. Chief Judge of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, the Honorable Mary Schroeder recently reappointed Frances to this position.
On September 1, 2001, then Governor Carl T.C. Gutierrez appointed Judge Tydingco-Gatewood to an Associate Guam Supreme Court Justice position. In tapping her to serve on the island's high court, Governor Gutierrez recognized Judge Tydingco-Gatewood's dedication to jurisprudence as a litigator and jurist. He echoed the overwhelming support she received from her peers in the legal community and noted those attributes, including her civic and community contributions as the key factors in appointing her to the Supreme Court bench. The 26th Guam Legislature unanimously confirmed Frances Tydingco-Gatewood to the Supreme Court. Prior to her appointment to the Guam Supreme Court and while serving as a Superior Court Judge Frances also served as a designated associate Supreme Court Justice for the Guam Supreme Court in cases of conflict for approximately three years. She was also appointed by the Honorable Chief Justice of the CNMI, Miguel Demapan to serve as a designated Associate Justice for the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands. She currently serves in this position in cases of conflicts.
Prior to her confirmation as a federal judge, Tydingco-Gatewood served as an associate justice with fellow justice Robert J. Torres under the leadership of the Chief Justice of Guam, the Honorable F. Philip Carbullido.
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