It’s an honorable position, which Johnny Cepeda Gogo says he’s been preparing for since he was an assistant attorney general for Guam back in 1997.

Gogo learned of the vacancy in the U.S. Attorney’s office in mid-January through the honorable Judge Francis Tydingco- Gatewood. Gogo said Gatewood has been a mentor of his throughout the years and was one of his trial judges when he was a prosecutor back on Guam.

"She told me about the potential vacancy and she asked if I was interested and really for the first time I thought, you know what maybe I should apply and the reason why I hadn’t applied earlier is you know I was still enjoying my career at the DA’s office in Santa Clara and then I got to the bench as a judge."

Although he’s enjoyed being a judge and has spent the vast majority of his career as a prosecutor out in California, ultimately, coming back home has always been his goal, Gogo said.

He previously served as a deputy district attorney for Santa Clara for more than 20 years, where he prosecuted major narcotics and methamphetamine cases. To add to his resume, Gogo has served as a Professor of Law at Lincoln Law School in San Jose and Stanford University, and been involved with teaching and mentoring at Santa Clara University School of Law. Now serving on the bench for a year as justice of the Superior Court of Santa Clara, he brings that judicial perspective to any job that comes his way. However, he says a key part of his job experience has been his ability to serve as a community prosecutor in Santa Clara County.

"What that means is I was outside of the courtroom outside of the office and kind of embedded in the community to kind of help people solve problems primarily criminal problems right," Gogo said. "So drugs alcohol those types of issues and I got to really be more of a social worker and try to find resources and help for those people suffering through those issues."

A much different mindset than your normal criminal trial prosecutor. One of Gogo’s focus as a community prosecutor was the prevention and intervention of juvenile crime.

"We know that if we can prevent young people from getting involved in the criminal justice system in the first place there’s a greater likelihood that they won’t be involved in the criminal justice system as adults," he said. 


Gogo believes it’s important that CHamorus have representation in positions of leadership, which is one of the reasons he’s taken so many leadership positions throughout his career. He says the drive to learn and striving to be the best he can be has been some of his main motivations as he’s grown in rank. He adds that some people may think that giving up the judicial position in California may be a step back in terms of being a prosecutor but says he doesn’t look at it that way at all.

"I think going back there to help is first and foremost always important and never a step back or a step down from anything for me stepping into ultimately and hopefully again because it’s not done deal we need President Biden to confirm it," he said. 

Gogo said if he’s blessed to come back home in the top federal law enforcement position for Guam, he looks to get more involved in the community to help people understand what the federal government can and can’t do, but more importantly open doors, build bridges, and improve communications if they need to be improved.

His advice for young aspiring attorneys is to, of course, first get their education, and to become experts in whatever field they are currently working in. But to not just limit themselves to that.

"Always keep involved in the community continue to learn whether it’s taking more classes or teaching classes expand your horizons expand your experience network and continue to build relationships and build bridges because again opportunities do present themselves when you’re looking," Gogo said.

Prior to moving to California, Gogo was an assistant attorney general for Guam, and worked for the local private firm of Calvo & Clark.