Judiciary

The CNMI Judiciary, with the hospitality of the U.S. District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands, conducted a Language Access Program Training at the United States District Court on Friday, January 29, 2021. The training provided a review of language access laws and practical pointers to work effectively with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) persons and court interpreters.
the Guma’ Hustisia construction for the COVID-19 Screening and Security Zone is now complete. The screening zone, funded by the CARES Act, is part of the Judiciary’s program in mitigating the spread of COVID-19.
The Judiciary has formed several committees to review and propose amendments to its court rules. The Rules of Criminal Procedure Committee, chaired by Justice Perry B. Inos, meets weekly in the Supreme Court to carefully consider each criminal procedure rule. Committee members include Chief Prosecutor John Bradley, Chief Public Defender Douglas Hartig, attorney John Norcross, Supreme Court Clerk of Court Gretchen Smith and Law Clerk Carmen V. Borja.
CNMI - based interpreters pose in the Supreme Court courtroom for a Judiciary-sponsored language access training on August 21, 2020. Providing language access services is critical to maintaining equal access to justice.
The Judiciary conducted a sexual harassment workshop on September 02, 2020.
The Guma' Hustisia's Supreme Court is retrofitted with plexiglass to ensure all COVID-19 precautionary measures are put in place. These items enable jury trials and other and other court proceedings to be conducted in the Supreme Court, ensuring adequate plexiglass dividers between jurors.
For the first time in history, the Supreme Court live streamed oral arguments during its second quarter appellate session in April 2020. In one case, a Guam-based attorney presented his arguments from his law firm library. Live streaming will also be conducted for the third and fourth quarter appellate sessions.
Judiciary administrative leaders meet monthly to discuss issues covering budget, language access, professional development programs, facilities maintenance and case management. (February 2020)
The Rules of Admission allow attorneys licensed in other U.S. jurisdictions to work for the Commonwealth government for four years without taking the Commonwealth Bar examination. Attorney General Edward Manibusan joins Chief Justice Alexandro Castro after Abby Novotny takes her Oath of Attorney. (March 2020)
Pacific Judicial Council-American College of Trial Lawyers

conducted a training for bench members and the Bar on trial practice. Shown with the presenters are jurists from the CNMI, Guam and Micronesia. January 27-29, 2020.
Judiciary Staff complete the Language Access Program Training conducted by Debi Tulang-De Silva of the Hawaii Judiciary January 16, 2020.
Language Access Policy Committee, headed by Justice Perry B. Inos, meet with Debi Tulang-De Silva of the Hawaii Judiciary. January 16, 2020.

Click here for Request for Proposals No. RFP-2021-JUD-4 for the Assessment and Design of the Fire Alarm and Firesprinkler/Protection System

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COURT INTERPRETER SERVICES - LANGUAGE ACCESS POLICY & PLAN

Federal law prohibits national origin discrimination and requires federally assisted law enforcement entities, such as the Judiciary, to take reasonable steps to provide meaningful access to programs, services, and information to Limited English Proficiency (LEP) and Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) individuals. In compliance with federal law, the Language Access Plan and Policy (LAPP) is designed to provide timely, meaningful, and equal access to Judiciary programs, services, and information to LEP and DHH persons. This policy moves a step further by promoting the accuracy and integrity of court proceedings, preserving constitutional principles of fairness and access to justice, and ensuring maximum communication between the Judiciary and members of the community with whom the Judiciary interacts. Interpreter services are provided for American Sign Language, Bengali, Carolinian, Chamorro, Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese), Chuukese, Japanese, Korean, Kosraean, Palauan, Pohnpeian, Russian, Tagalog, Thai, Yapese and other languages as required.

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The Commission maintains the Commonwealth Code, Northern Mariana Islands Administrative Code, decisions of the CNMI judiciary, and other related legal resources.