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title: "Joaquin V. Manibusan | KnowJudges"
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# Joaquin V. Manibusan

District Court of Guam · U.S. Magistrate Judge

## Profile

- Court: District Court of Guam
- State: Guam
- Role: U.S. Magistrate Judge
- Service status: former
- Last verified: 2026-06-30

## Biography

### Professional career

- 2004–2020: U.S. Magistrate Judge, U.S. District Court for Guam (two eight‐year terms)
- Joaquin V.E. Manibusan Jr. was the first full-time U.S. Magistrate Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Guam, serving from February 2004 until his retirement on February 7, 2020
- District Court of Guam Manibusan was appointed to be the first federal magistrate judge for United States District Court of Guam by chief judge John S. Unpingco in 2004
- 1995–2004: Judge, Superior Court of Guam
- 1999: Designated Justice, Supreme Court of Guam
- Assistant Attorney General, Government of Guam, Office of the Attorney General, Civil Division; 1975-1977

### Education

- University of California, Berkeley School of Law (Boalt Hall) — J.D. (1974)
- J.D. — University of California Berkeley in 1971 and 1974
- University of California, Berkeley — B.A. (1971)

### Additional information

- Magistrate, District Court, D. Guam, 2004-present
- Retired from the bench on February 7, 2020.
- His last day on the bench was January 31, 2020, with official retirement on February 7, 2020
- 1999–2003: Pro Tem Judge, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
- Attorney, Private practice; from 1977
- Entered private practice after service in the Guam Attorney General's Civil Division.
- Reappointed at the end of his first eight-year term by Frances Tydingco-Gatewood.

## Sources

- [Official profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/9204/joaquin-v-manibusan/)
- [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/9204/joaquin-v-manibusan/)
- [U.S. District Court for the District of Guam current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/9204/joaquin-v-manibusan/)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/9204/joaquin-v-manibusan/)
- [Joaquin V.E. Manibusan Jr. - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Joaquin_V.E._Manibusan_Jr.)
- [District Court of Guam 2009 Annual Report](https://www.gud.uscourts.gov/sites/gud/files/final_2009_annual_report.pdf)
- [www.gud.uscourts.gov](https://www.gud.uscourts.gov/sites/gud/files/2025%20District%20Report%2020250826b%201653%20reduced_0.pdf)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/9204/joaquin-v-manibusan/)
- [Joaquin V.E. Manibusan Jr. - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Joaquin_V.E._Manibusan_Jr.)
- [District Court of Guam 2009 Annual Report](https://www.gud.uscourts.gov/sites/gud/files/final_2009_annual_report.pdf)

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