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 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.
Deputy Marshal Roemar S. Segotier manning the x-ray machine at the Screening and Security Zone at the Guma Hustisia. (February 2021)
Deputy Marshal Maria M. Tudela at the Marshal's desk at the newly constructed Screening and Security Zone. The Monitor in the background displays the court calendar and activities. (February 2021)
On February 24, 2021, Bar Administrator Nora V. Borja administered the bar examination in the Law Library of the U.S. District Court for the NMI. The Judiciary administers the bar exam annually in February and July.
On February 23, 2021, the Judicial Council held its first regular business meeting of the year in the Guma' Hustisia. In the front row seated left to right: Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho, Associate Justice John A. Manglona, Chief Justice Alexandro C. Castro, Associate Justice Perry B. Inos, and Presiding Judge Roberto C. Naraja. Back row standing from left to right: Grants Administrator James W. Stowell, Chief Marshal Jason T. Tarkong, Chief Probation Officer Simram W. Simram, Executive Director/Legal Counsel Hyun Jae Lee, Family Court Manager Queanna C. Sablan, Director of Courts Sonia A. Camacho, Programs & Resource Specialist Martha B. Mendiola, Human Resources/Administrative Officer Michelle V. Guerrero, System Administrator Michael C. Villacrusis, Drug Court Manager Edward P. Diaz, Budget and Finance Director John T. Villagomez and Clerk of Court Patrick V. Diaz.
Biba Mes Famalao’an! During the month of March 2021, the Judiciary honors the hardworking women in our family. They keep the proverbial Wheels of Justice in motion. We are proud of our past and present Judiciary stalwarts — exemplary role models for future leaders!
On March 15, 2021, Judiciary bench members met at the Guma’ Hustisia with the Tinian leadership—Mayor Edwin P. Aldan, Senate President Jude U. Hofschneider, Senator Francisco Q. Cruz, Senator Karl R. King-Nabors, Congressman Patrick H. San Nicolas, Municipal Council members Thomasa Rita P. Mendiola and Joseph R. E. Santos, and Tinian Mayor Chief of Staff Allen M. Perez—to discuss the Judiciary’s 2018-2022 Strategic Plan for Kotten Tinian. The Plan calls for modernization of the courthouse on Tinian.
NEHS Induction

On April 20, 2021, Chief Justice Alexandro C. Castro inducted 14 students of Garapan Elementary School into the Chapter of National Elementary Honor Society. Congratulations to the inductees! #NEHS2021
Justice John A. Manglona, Justice Perry B. Inos and Judiciary Staff pose for a photo with members of the Rotary Club of Saipan. On May 4, 2021, Director of Courts Sonia A. Camacho presented a report on the Judiciary's operations and Law Clerk Carmen V. Borja presented on the Rules of Electronic Recordation.
On Thursday, May 20, 2021, Chief Justice Alexandro C. Castro presented the Presiding Judge Award to Ms. Brianna Deleon Guerrero and the Associate Judge Award to Ms. Geeliana Deleon Guerrero of William S. Reyes Elementary School
On Thursday, May 20, 2021, Associate Justice Perry B. Inos presented the Superior Court Award to Ms. Haani Joy Barcinas of Grace Christian Academy Rota.
The CNMI Judiciary 2020 Annual Report is out. To view, click below.
2020 Annual Report
On September 23 and October 1, 2021, General Counsel Hyun Jae Lee and Director of Courts Sonia A. Camacho, who also serves as the LAPP Coordinator for the NMI Judiciary, conducted a language access training on the basics of court interpretation to 30 participants. The NMI Judiciary sponsored the training. Justice John A. Manglona, Justice Perry B. Inos, and Judge Wesley Bogdan, who did the closing remarks, joined the presenters and participants for a group photo.
Pictured are Round Table Discussion Panelists Judge Joseph N. Camacho, Judge Teresa Kim-Tenorio, Chief Public Defender Douglas Hartig, General Counsel Hyun Jae Lee, Interpreter Dennis Tse, and Director of Courts Sonia A. Camacho. Justice Perry B. Inos moderated the discussion and Chief Justice Alexandro C. Castro delivered the closing remarks. Also in the photo are the participants and Judiciary staff who assisted in the court interpreter training.
Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona of the U.S. District Court gives a virtual presentation about statutory interpretation.
Chief Justice Alexandro C. Castro and Justice John A. Manglona speak with Rep. Corina Magofna at the start of the Law and the Freshman Legislator seminar.
Deputy General Counsel Matthew Brown gives a presentation on the Covenant.
Judge Wesley M. Bogdan, Justice John A. Manglona, Judge Teresa Kim-Tenorio, Chief Justice Alexandro C. Castro, Judge Kenneth L. Govendo, and Justice Perry B. Inos pose with Rep. Magofna as she receives her certificate for completing the Law and the Freshman Legislator seminar.
Justice John A. Manglona presents Rep. Magofna with the judiciary pin.
Justice John A. Manglona, Judge Kenneth L. Govendo, Judge Wesley M. Bogdan, Justice Perry B. Inos, Chief Justice Alexandro C. Castro, and Judge Teresa Kim-Tenorio participate in a roundtable discussion with Rep. Magofna about the role of the courts.

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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.