Jude Untalan Hofschneider (born July 11, 1970) is a Northern Marianan politician and member of the Northern Mariana Islands from the 2nd district.{{cite news|last=Bautista Esmores|first=Kimberly|title=Deleon Guerrero makes history as first female Senate president|date=January 9, 2023|access-date=January 9, 2023|newspaper=Saipan Tribune|url=https://www.saipantribune.com/index.php/deleon-guerrero-makes-history-as-first-female-senate-president/}} He has served as that body's President on two occasions and as the 9th Lieutenant Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands from February 20, 2013 to January 12, 2015. He was automatically elevated to this position on February 20, 2013, when the former lieutenant governor, Eloy S. Inos, assumed the governorship.

Background and personal life

Jude Untalan Hofschneider was born July 11, 1970.{{cite web|title=Inauguration of the Seventeenth Northern Marianas Commonwealth Legislature|date=January 11, 2010|publisher=Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Legislature|access-date=May 12, 2024|page=14|url=https://cnmileg.net/documents/17thProBookFinal.pdf}} Hofschneider graduated from Reynolds High School at Troutdale, Oregon in 1988. His initial civil service job was as a soil and water conservation coordinator. He went on to receive an associate degree from Northern Marianas College in 1996. Hofschneider then served as an environmental specialist in the Tinian Department of Public Works, and later the deputy director of that agency. Enrolled with University of Phoenix on-line curriculum.

Political career

= Municipal office =

In 2004, Hofschneider was elected to the Tinian & Aguiguan Municipal Council. He served for two years on the Association of Mariana Islands Mayors and Municipal Councilors (AMIM).{{cite news|title=Biographies: Lt. Governor Jude U. Hofschneider|publisher=Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Governor's Office|url=http://gov.mp/biographies-2/lt-governor|accessdate=August 17, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509060305/http://gov.mp/biographies-2/lt-governor/|archive-date=May 9, 2013}}

= Commonwealth Legislature =

In 2006, Hofschneider won election to the Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Legislature as a senator. In his seven years serving with that body, he acted in a variety of roles. From 2010 to 2013 he was the vice president of the Senate. Hofschneider was elected President of the Northern Marianas Islands Senate by acclimation at the start of the 18th Commonwealth Legislature.{{cite journal|first=Geraldine T. (Senate Journal Clerk)|last=Cruz|title=Election of President|journal=Senate Journal|volume=18|number=1|page=7|date=January 14, 2013|access-date=May 13, 2024|publisher=Northern Marianas Islands Senate|url=https://cnmileg.net/documents/senate/journal/18/370.pdf}} After the resignation of Benigno Fitial and elevation of Eloy Inos to serve as Governor, Hofschneider was elevated to Lieutenant Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands. The Senate elected Ralph Torres to serve as President for the remainder of the 18th Commonwealth Legislature.{{cite journal|first=Geraldine T. (Senate Journal Clerk)|last=Cruz|title=First Special Session: Election of President|journal=Senate Journal|volume=18|number=5|page=7|date=February 22, 2013|access-date=May 13, 2024|publisher=Northern Marianas Islands Senate|url=https://cnmileg.net/documents/senate/journal/18/373.pdf}}

= Lieutenant governorship =

Hofschneider took up the lieutenant governorship in February 2013. He served as acting governor while the governor was out of the commonwealth.{{cite news|title=Acting governor Hofschneider appoints Ray Quichocho as judge|first=Haidee|last=Eugenio|date=May 9, 2013|accessdate=August 17, 2013|work=Saipan Tribune|url=http://www.saipantribune.com/%5C/newsstory.aspx?cat=1&newsID=127267|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203085920/http://www.saipantribune.com/%5C/newsstory.aspx?cat=1&newsID=127267|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 3, 2014}} His term ended in 2015.