amessagefrom CHIEF JUSTICEALEXANDROC. CASTRO

After two long yearsof being substantiallyimpacted by the COVID-19 pandemic,two-thousand twenty-two wasa year that will be remembered asthe year the Judiciary began to emerge from the pandemicwith lessonslearned and a hardened resolve Two yearsof economicand societal upheaval began to lessen,and the Judiciarycontinued to satisfy itsconstitutional mandates Just asthe COVID-19 pandemicapproached itsend stages,the Judiciaryalso completed itsfirst strategic plan,spanning from 2018 to 2022

Just asit did in 2021,upon being awarded approximately$13 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding,the Judiciarycontinued to responsiblyexpend itsfundsand ensure itsspending plan was followed to take full advantage of thisonce-in-a-lifetime funding infusion Chief among thisyear?s accomplishmentswasthe overall technologymodernization of our facilitiesand services,allowing for greater accessto the judicial system for the people of the Commonwealth.Throughout the year,we worked tirelesslypreparing for the launch of the Commonwealth Recorder?sOffice?se-recording platform,with a planned launch date in early FY2023 Thissystem will allow for worldwide accessto recording documentsin the Commonwealth and streamline the recording processand isone component of the Judiciary?sdigitization and scanning project which involvesthe scanning of tensof thousandsof documentsdating back to the Trust Territory era

Thisyear we were also able to look back on our first five-year strategic plan and note our accomplishments,while also reflecting on goalswe still must complete Among our seven goals,the Judiciary made extraordinary advancesin addressing pressing needsthrough non-adversarial models and strengthening our connection with the community In 2021,the Mental Health Court Docket waslaunched,and in 2022,the Judiciary received $303,000 for a viabilitystudyto expand thisdocket to include a focused approach to assist our veterans.Additionally,I can proudlysaythat after a multi-year hiatus,the Judiciarysummer pre-law program returned and was completed by19 participants

Year after year,the Judiciarycontinuesto adapt,and its employeesrise to the occasion byensuring judicial servicesremain available to all 2022 wasno different Si Yu?usMa?ase for those who contributed to these efforts

CHIEF JUSTICEALEXANDROC. CASTRO isthe fourth Chief Justice of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.He was appointed byGovernor Benigno R.Fitial in 2012 and unanimouslyconfirmed bythe Senate.He currentlyservesasa justice pro tem of the Supreme Court of Guam and a non-resident Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Republicof Palau.In the CNMI, Chief Justice Castro also served asan Associate Justice of the Supreme Court (1998-2012); Presiding Judge of the Superior Court (1993-1998); and Associate Judge of the Commonwealth Trial Court (1989-1993).

He became the first indigenousCNMI Attorney General in 1986 after serving asthe Chief Prosecutor (1983-1986).He isthe founding father of the AttorneyGeneral?sCup Speech Competition,an annual event in which high school studentsfrom Rota,Tinian,and Saipan debate a current legal issue facing the CNMI. He isadmitted to practice law in the U.S. Supreme Court; U.S.Court of Appealsfor the Ninth Circuit; U.S.District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands; CNMI Courts,and the Courtsof the Trust Territoryof the Pacific Islands(asa paralegal).Chief Justice Castro graduated from the Facultyof Law,University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) in 1989,a British-oriented law school.While in law school,he represented UPNGin the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition in Washington,D.C. He ismarried to Carmen Mosesof Angaur, Palau,and he isblessed with six children?Patrick,Yvonne,Eric,Junior,Rodney, and Ariel.

JUSTICEJOHN A. MANGLONA hasbeen a justice for over 22 years.Governor Pedro P.Tenorio initiallyappointed him in 2000,and the CNMI Senate unanimouslyconfirmed the appointment.Justice Manglona hasbeen successfullyretained in three elections,each carrying an eight-year term.Justice Manglona served asan Associate Judge in the Superior Court from 1998 to 2000.While serving asa judge,he wasalso nominated byGuam Governor Carl T.C.Gutierrezto serve asa Designated Justice of the Guam Supreme Court for a term of four years.The Guam Legislature unanimouslyconfirmed the nomination.He continuesto assist the Guam Supreme Court as a justice pro tem.

Justice Manglona,born on Rota,attended Guam Catholicschoolsand graduated from Father DuenasMemorial School.He received hisB.A. in Political Economy from the University of California,Berkeley. He graduated from Creighton University School of Law (J.D.) and the Universityof the Pacific,McGeorge School of Law (LL.M.in Taxation).Prior to his appointment to the bench,Justice Manglona wasin private practice focusing on probate, corporations,tax,and real property transactions.He actively participatesin the Judiciary?soutreach programssuch asthe Law and the Freshman Legislator,High School Mock Trial,Justicesin the Classroom,and Law Week. He volunteered for manyyearswith the National ForensicsLeague,National Speech and Debate,and We the People programsasa competition coach or judge.

Justice Manglona ismarried to U.S.District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona,and they are blessed with two adult children.

JUSTICEPERRY B. INOSascended to the Supreme Court in 2013 after serving asan Associate Judge on the Superior Court since 2008.Governor Benigno R.Fitial appointed him to both courts.Justice Inossuccessfully underwent retention electionsin 2012 and 2020.

Born on Saipan,Justice Inoswent to Rota High School and graduated from the Universityof Guam with a B.B.A.in Management.He received hisJurisDoctor degree from the Universityof New Mexico School of Law.Before joining the bench,he worked for the Office of the AttorneyGeneral,Law Office of John A. Manglona,and asa solo practitioner.Justice Inosparticipatesin the Judiciary?svarious outreach programsand the PacificJudicial Council education committee and assiststhe Guam Supreme Court asjustice pro tem when designated.He volunteersin the community as a member of the RotaryClub of Saipan.

He ismarried to Debra A.Inos,and they have three children.