Presiding judge asks mayors to partner on treatment courts as drug, alcohol cases grow

Presiding Judge Lamorena, Presiding Judge of the Superior Court of Guam, told the Mayor’s Council of Guam on Feb. 5 that the island’s treatment courts and community treatment capacity are overwhelmed and asked mayors to join a coordinated response.

Lamorena said the island has more people seeking treatment than the court-funded slots can handle and urged mayors to help identify community options that do not require prosecution. “We just have too few openings for too many people trying to get in,” Lamorena said at the council meeting.

Why it matters: the judge said treatment courts — a collaboration of the court, Guam Behavioral Health, local recovery providers and other agencies — provide intensive, federally funded treatment for people charged with substance offenses, but slots are limited. Lamorena described long-term trends in methamphetamine cases and said the court and health providers need municipal partners to expand noncourt treatment placements and local support services.

Lamorena gave historical context in the meeting. He said the Superior Court handled “over 3,000 cases” by people charged with possession of a controlled substance in the early 2000s, and that the Attorney General filed about 900 felony cases last year, “half of them were possession cases.” He warned that many residents cannot access treatment because federal treatment‑court grants require quality standards and the current capacity is limited.

The judge described four pillars of recovery that treatment programs emphasize — sobriety, rebuilding social relationships, employment and self‑esteem through volunteering — and asked mayors to consider community roles such as supporting recovery jobs, local prevention work and graduation recognition. He also said many treatment providers are people in recovery themselves and stressed that creating local social bonds can support long-term sobriety.

After the presentation, Mayor Jesse Alec, President of the Mayor’s Council of Guam, asked to schedule a dedicated meeting for mayors and treatment stakeholders. Lamorena agreed and the council’s staff indicated they will help coordinate a follow-up meeting with the presiding judge’s chambers, Guam Behavioral Health and recovery providers to present available options and resources.

Next steps: council staff will help schedule a stakeholder briefing so mayors can review treatment‑court operations, community treatment options and local roles in prevention and recovery referrals. The judge said the court will participate in the meeting and urged mayors to bring community questions and lists of local resources.