Joaquin C. Arriola, Jr., Partner

JOAQUIN C. ARRIOLA, JR. (JAY) is a trial attorney with over 30 years of experience, practicing primarily criminal defense, family law, probate and civil litigation. He has successfully litigated and tried dozens of criminal and civil cases in the local and federal courts, including many high-profile cases. He is a member of the court-appointed panels for all Guam trial courts, and represents many indigent members of the community. Jay Arriola was the Guam Bar Association president for eight years, and has been the Guam Bar Delegate to the American Bar Association House of Delegates since 2005. Jay Arriola was consistently voted “Pika’s Best of Guam – Best Divorce Attorney” from 2014 to 2022.

Positions and Employment: PARTNER, Arriola Law Firm (formerly known as Arriola, Cowan & Arriola and Arriola, Cowan & Bordallo), 1991 to present. Jay practices primarily criminal defense and family law. He has won jury trial acquittals in many high- and low-profile cases and has successfully tried and litigated dozens of family law cases, before the local and federal trial and appellate courts. He also maintains a significant probate and civil litigation practice, including real estate matters. DEPUTY PUBLIC DEFENDER, San Diego County, San Diego, CA. Jay represented defendants in San Diego courtrooms for felony and misdemeanor offenses. Throughout law school, he worked as a public defender intern in San Jose, Santa Clara County. Jay managed a large caseload, and completed several trials in his term as a Public Defender in California. 

Member: Jay was Guam’s Representative to the National Conference of Criminal Justice Attorneys, and was a Member, Board of Law Examiners of the Supreme Court of Guam; Member, Board of Trustees of the Public Defender Corporation; and Member, National Conference of Bar Presidents. He is also an active member of the CNMI Bar Association and American Bar Association. Jay was Guam’s U.S. District Court Lawyer Representative before being elected as member at large of the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals Conference Executive Committee.