NMI JUDICIARY 2023 ANNUAL REPORT

2023 ANNUAL REPORT

FEATURES

LAW WEEK PROCLAMATION SIMULTANEOUS BROADCAST

NMI and Guam join forces in a historic simultaneous broadcast of the annual Law Week proclamation signing ceremony.

KONBETSASION & FIYONG EVENT MARKS 3RD ANNUAL CULTURAL DAY

The Judiciary kicks off its annual Commonwealth Cultural Day celebration with the Konbetsasion & Fiyong event followed by performances, delicacies and exhibits.

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHTS

Judiciary employees are interviewed about questions ranging from work culture and career paths to their personal life.

ADVANCING ACCESS TO JUSTICE

STRATEGIC PLAN 2023-28

The Judicial Council adopts a new Strategic Plan, ensuring the highest standards of service to the public and expanding access to the judicial system.

COURT UPGRADES CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

The Judiciary will upgrade to a new, advanced and efficient case management system—eCourt.

NIGHT COURT NOW IN SESSION

The Superior Court launches monthly night sessions for the Family Court docket to accommodate working litigants.

The Guma’ Hustisia’s stately exterior lights up at dusk during a monthly night court session.

ADVISORS

Chief Advisor

Director of Courts

ARPA Administrator

General Counsel

Deputy General Counsel Law Clerk

Justice John A. Mangloña

Sonia A. Camacho

Martha M. Standish

Hyun Jae Lee

Matthew J. Brown

Paige Lehman

ASSOCIATE EDITORS

Special Projects Coordinator

ARPA Administrative Officer

Judicial Assistant

Bryan S. Bocago

Roy V. Salas

Josephine N. Estrada

CONTRIBUTING STAFF

ARPA Scanning Clerk

ARPA Scanning Clerk

ARPA Scanning Clerk

ARPA Information Systems Assistant

ARPA Information Systems Assistant Administrative Officer

Client Services Navigator Paralegal

Tracy D. Limes

Micca B. King

Elvira M. Quitugua

Kristine D. Laurio

Vincent P. Camacho

Gregorio U. Tudela

Jolyn P. Deleon Guerrero

Mary C. Glass

GRAPHICS

ARPA Info. Systems Support Specialist Rogelio N. Francia

2765 Tekking Street

Guma’ Hustisia Iimwal Aweewe House of Justice PO Box 502165 Saipan, MP 96950 (670) 236-9800

www.NMIJudiciary.gov

MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF JUSTICE

I am honored to present the NMI Judiciary 2023 Annual Report, a testament to our collective dedication to enhancing access to justice for the people of the Northern Mariana Islands.

In response to the unique challenges of the post-COVID-19 era, the Judiciary has taken significant strides toward making justice more accessible and responsive to the needs of our community. One of the key milestones reached in 2023 is the embrace of technology as a catalyst for positive change. We are in the development phases of a new eCourt case management system, including eSupervision and eCitation components. The progress made reflects our commitment to efficiency and accessibility in the administration of justice. With the successful completion of eCourt, the Judiciary envisions a systematic, timely, and accessible means of case management for the convenience of our people. Further, while we have begun to implement this sophisticated system, we have also made continued and steady improvements in digital recordkeeping for document retention and accessibility of legal information.

I am also thrilled to announce the landmark achievement of the Family Court night court sessions, a first-of-itskind initiative in the Commonwealth that demonstrates our commitment to understanding and addressing the unique needs of our community. The implementation of this service allows parties to engage with the legal system without compromising their work commitments, providing a convenient and accessible avenue for individuals to seek justice and become responsible citizens.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated staff of the Judiciary on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota whose unwavering commitment to justice has made these advancements possible. Our journey toward a more accessible and responsive Judiciary is a collective effort, and I am proud to lead such a distinguished and dedicated team.

Thank you for your continued support and dedication to the cause of justice.

Si Yu’us Ma’ase & Olomwaay,

Alexandro C. Castro

Chief Justice

SUPREME COURT

Chief Justice Alexandro C. Castro, the fourth Chief Justice, was appointed by Governor Benigno R. Fitial in 2012 and unanimously confirmed by the Senate. He currently serves as a justice pro tempore of the Supreme Court of Guam and a non-resident Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Palau. Chief Justice Castro served as an 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 indigenous Attorney General in 1986 after serving as the Chief Prosecutor (19831986). He is the founding father of the Attorney General’s Cup Speech Competition, an annual event in which high school students from Rota, Tinian, and Saipan debate current legal issues. He is admitted to practice law in the U.S. Supreme Court; U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit; U.S. District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands; CNMI Courts, and the Courts of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (as a paralegal). Chief Justice Castro graduated from the Faculty of Law, University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) in 1989, a British-oriented law school. While in law school, he represented UPNG in the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition in Washington, D.C. He is married to Carmen Moses of Angaur, Palau, and he is blessed with six children—Patrick, Yvonne, Eric, Junior, Rodney, and Ariel.

Justice John A. Mangloña has been a justice for over 22 years. Governor Pedro P. Tenorio initially appointed him in 2000, and the Senate unanimously confirmed the appointment. Justice Mangloña has been successfully retained in three elections, each carrying an eight-year term. Justice Mangloña served as an Associate Judge in the Superior Court from 1998 to 2000. While serving as a judge, he was also nominated by Guam Governor Carl T.C. Gutierrez to serve as a Designated Justice of the Guam Supreme Court for a term of four years. The Guam Legislature unanimously confirmed the nomination. He continues to assist the Guam Supreme Court as a justice pro tempore. Justice Manglona, born on Rota, attended Guam Catholic schools and graduated from Father Duenas Memorial School. He received his B.A. in Political Economy from the University of California, Berkeley. He graduated from Creighton University School of Law (J.D.) and the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law (LL.M. in Taxation). Prior to his appointment to the bench, Justice Mangloña was in private practice focusing on probate, corporations, tax, and real property transactions. He actively participates in the Judiciary’s outreach programs such as the Law and the Freshman Legislator, High School Mock Trial and Moot Court, Justices in the Classroom, and Law Week. He volunteered for many years with the National Forensics League, National Speech and Debate, and We the People programs as a competition coach or judge. Justice Mangloña is married to U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Mangloña, and they are blessed with two adult children and a granddaughter.

Justice Perry B. Inos ascended to the Supreme Court in 2013 after serving as an Associate Judge on the Superior Court since 2008. Governor Benigno R. Fitial appointed him to both courts. Justice Inos successfully underwent retention elections in 2012 and 2020. Born on Saipan, Justice Inos went to Rota High School and graduated from the University of Guam with a B.B.A. in Management. He received his Juris Doctorate from the University of New Mexico School of Law. Before joining the bench, he worked for the Office of the Attorney General, Law Office of John A. Mangloña, and as a solo practitioner. Justice Inos participates in the Judiciary’s various outreach programs and the Pacific Judicial Council education committee and assists the

From left: Justice John A. Mangloña, Chief Justice Alexandro C. Castro, and Justice Perry B. Inos share a congenial moment following oral arguments.

JUDICIAL ASSISTANTS & LAW CLERKS

Irene T. San Nicolas, Chamber Administrator to Chief Justice Alexandro C. Castro, graduated from Mount Carmel High School and attended Hawaii Pacific College to pursue a degree in Business Management. She began her career in the Supreme Court on April 10, 1995. Irene has taken on many positions in the Judiciary: Secretary, Judicial Assistant, and Chamber Administrator. She served three Supreme Court Chief Justices before Chief Justice Castro: Chief Justices Jose S. Dela Cruz, Marty W.K. Taylor, and Miguel S. Demapan. She was happily married for 44 years to her high school sweetheart, Gil M. San Nicolas, and is blessed with three beautiful children and 14 beautiful grandchildren.

Josephine N. Estrada, Judicial Assistant to Justice John A. Mangloña, started at the Office of Adult Probation as an office clerk while she was working towards her associate's degree in Criminal Justice

from the Northern Marianas College. She then received her bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice in May 2021 from both the University of Guam and Northern Marianas College through the NMC-UOG 3+1 Program. She started her career in the Supreme Court as a CARES Act Administrative Officer before becoming a Judicial Assistant in April 2021. In her spare time, she enjoys singing and learning interesting facts about cows.

Ignatia C. Aldan, Judicial Assistant to Justice Perry B. Inos, graduated from Mount Carmel School and began her career with the Judiciary on December 19, 2011, as thenAssociate Judge Perry B. Inos' Judicial Assistant. On March 8, 2013, when Justice Inos ascended to the Supreme Court, she remained his Judicial Assistant. Ignatia worked for 5 1/2 years before resigning to care for her uncle. She then returned to her position as Judicial Assistant to Justice Inos on February 14, 2021. Ignatia is happily married and blessed with four children, one stepson, and four grandchildren. Her hobbies include listening to music and playing with her grandchildren.

Patrick C. Quimby began clerking for Chief Justice Castro in September 2022. He has lived all throughout the southeastern United States but calls Houston, Texas his home. Patrick holds a bachelor’s degree in international studies from Texas A&M University and a law degree from Washington and Lee University. He enjoys playing pickleball, watching European soccer, and eating good barbecue.

Originally from Kansas City, Missouri, law clerk Paige Lehman received a bachelor's degree from Missouri State University before teaching English in Madrid, Spain. She attended law school at Washington University in St. Louis and graduated with her Juris Doctor and a certificate in Public Interest law before moving to Saipan in August 2023. She is licensed to practice law in Missouri. In her free time, she enjoys reading, swimming, learning Korean, and spending time with new friends.

Nathan M. Ford received his B.A. in Applied Linguistics from Grinnell College in 2017. Before attending law school, Nathan worked as a paralegal and Spanish language interpreter. Nathan received his J.D. from the University of Iowa College of Law in 2023. During law school, Nathan interned first at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and later at a New York firm focused on labor and employment law. When he is not working, Nathan enjoys running, cooking, gardening, and spending time with his parents, seven siblings, and six nieces and nephews.

Ignatia C. Aldan Judicial Assistant

If you had to describe the Judiciary as an animal, which animal would it be and why? A lion because it can both be chaotic and handle chaos.

If you could only choose one word to describe your working style, what would it be? Calm.

What is the single most important thing to help you navigate a challenge at work? Great teamwork/staff support.

What advice would you give yourself if you were starting your career again? Don’t stress yourself out on things you can’t control.

What’s a skill you’d like to learn or improve? Increasing my computer/technical knowledge, understanding, and skills.

What’s your favorite way to unwind after a busy work week? Relaxing on the couch and watching Netflix.

If you could choose an age to remain forever, which age would you choose? 25.

If you could only eat one item of food for the rest of your life, what would you eat? Bacon.

Which is better overall – the Supreme Court or the Superior Court? The Supreme Court!

Irene T. San Nicolas

Josephine N. Estrada

Ignatia C. Aldan

Patrick C. Quimby

Paige Lehman

Nathan M. Ford

SUPREME COURT CLERK OF COURT

Judy T. Aldan assumed her role as Clerk of Court for the NMI Supreme Court in November 2020. Prior to joining the Judiciary, she was a staff attorney with the CNMI Law Revision Commission, and an attorney with Torres Brothers, LLC. For several years, she served as the Criminal Justice Program Coordinator and as an Instructor at Northern Marianas College. She also taught leadership at Keystone Leadership Training Center in Bundang-Gu, South Korea. Mrs. Aldan received her Juris Doctor degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School and her undergraduate degree from Boise State University. She returned home after completing her studies and was admitted to the CNMI Bar in 2008.

The Deputy Clerk of the Supreme Court is Nora V. Borja, who has been with the Judiciary for over 25 years. Mrs. Borja served the former Chief Justice, Miguel Demapan, as his Judicial Assistant before joining the Office of the Clerk of the Supreme Court in 2012. She is also the Bar Administrator.

TABLE 1. PUBLISHED OPINIONS

CASE NAME OPINION DECISION

ANAKS v. Atkins Kroll Saipan

Antonio v. Baek

In Re Estate of Moteisou

ANAKS v. Atkins Kroll Saipan

In re Commonwealth

In re Pro Hac Vice Admission of James R. Kingman

DPL v. Blas

Commonwealth Casino Comm’n v. Imperial Pac. Int’l

Commonwealth v. Zhang

Torres v. House Standing Comm. on JGO

In re Estate of Concepcion Faisao Tudela

In re William Abraczinskas

In re Estate of Bernadita A. Mangloña

2023 MP 1 03/07/2023

2023 MP 2 03/07/2023

2023 MP 3 04/20/2023

2023 MP 4 05/04/2023

2023 MP 5 06/01/2023

2023 MP 6 06/14/2023

2023 MP 7 08/10/2023

2023 MP 8 08/25/2023

2023 MP 9 09/29/2023

2023 MP 10 10/31/2023

2023 MP 11 11/02/2023

2023 MP 12 12/14/2023

2023 MP 13 12/15/2023

TABLE 2. NEW CASES

CASE NAME CASE NUMBER

In re Estate of Bernadita A. Manglona

2023-SCC-0003-CIV

In re Estate of Rita Rogolifoi v. In re Estate of Silvestre Rogolifoi 2023-SCC-0004-CIV

Triple J Saipan, Inc. v. Luis Pelisamen

Yvonne Reyes Pangelinan as Guardian Ad Litem for M.P. (dob xxxx 2020), minor child, et al. v. Helen Taro-Atalig, et al.

Teodoro I. Albia, et. al. v. Commonwealth Security Services, et al.

2023-SCC-0007-CIV

2023-SCC-0008-CIV

2023-SCC-0009-CIV

In re William Abraczinskas v. Superior Court 2023-SCC-0010-PET

Commonwealth v. Anthony Peter Rios 2023-SCC-0011-CRM

Commonwealth v. Kenneth Thomas B. Kaipat 2023-SCC-0012-CRM

Xiaodong Tang v. Xuan Guo, et al. 2023-SCC-0013-CIV

James Q. Reyes v. Commonwealth 2023-SCC-0014-CIV

Other Dispositions:

Teodoro I. Albia v. Commonwealth Security Services, et al., 2023-SCC-0009-CIV Order of Dismissal issued June 21, 2023. John B. Matsumoto v. RJCL Corp., et al., 2022-SCC-0018-CIV Order of Dismissal issued October 26, 2023.

From left: Justice John A. Mangloña, Clerk of Court Judy T. Aldan, Chief Justice Alexandro C. Castro, Deputy Clerk of Court Nora V. Borja, and Justice Perry B. Inos.

ORAL ARGUMENTS

The Supreme Court held the following Oral Arguments in 2023, some of which are pictured below:

TABLE 3. ORAL ARGUMENTS

CASE NAME CASE NO.

Secundina Pangelinan, et. al, v. John S. Pangelinan

Sun Ha Park v. Eun Soo Han, et. al

Commonwealth Casino Commission v. Imperial Pacific International, (CNMI) LLC,

In re Estate of Rosa Lisua Moteisou

Department of Public Lands v. Basilius Blas

Commonwealth v. Shabgua Zhang

Shawn Appleby v. Wally Villagomez, Commissioner, Dept. of Corrections, et al.

In re Estate of Bernadita A. Mangloña

2022-SCC-0016-CIV 01/13/2023

2022-SCC-0008-CIV 01/13/2023

2022-SCC-0006-CIV 01/24/2023

2022-SCC-0010-CIV 01/25/2023

2022-SCC-0015-CIV 04/17/2023

2022-SCC-0004-CRM 04/18/2023

2022-SCC-0017-CIV 04/28/2023

2023-SCC-0003-CIV 11/06/2023

Secundina Pangelinan, et al, v. John S. Pangelinan (Jan. 13, 2023)

Sun Ha Park v. Eun Soo Han, et al. (Jan. 13, 2023)

Dept. of Public Lands v. Basilius Blas (Apr. 17, 2023)

In re Estate of Rosa L. Moteisou (Jan. 25, 2023

Commonwealth v. Zhang (April 18, 2023)

In re Estate of Bernadita A. Manglona (Nov. 6, 2023)

POLICIES, PROCEDURES, RULES, & BAR MATTERS

4. POLICIES & PROCEDURES

In re Adoption of the Revised Drug Court Policies and Procedures: Order Adopting Amended

TABLE 5. RULES

In re Adoption of the Rules of Guardianship Procedure

In re Adoption of the Rules for Continuing Legal Education

In re Adoption of the Rules of Family Dispute Mediation

Bar Examination

February 2023 Bar exam - 2 applicants; 50% passed. July 2023 Bar exam - 2 applicants; 0% passed.

Bar Resignation

Michael D. Flynn, Jr., Bar #F0203

2023-ADM-0002-BAR | eff. Dec. 4, 2023

Court-Approved Mediator

2023-ADM-0008-RUL 03/28/2023

2023-ADM-0010-RUL 05/19/2023

2023-ADM-0011-RUL 05/19/2023

In re Application of Joseph E. Horey for Approval as a CNMI Court-Approved Mediator 2023-ADM-0001-ADR | Jan. 19, 2023

TABLE 6. BAR ADMISSIONS

Molly Kay Dennert

Isa Josephine B. Baza

John M. Bradley

Karie E. Comstock

David P. Karch

James Robert Kingman

Charlene Winnette Brown

Rebecca R. Wiggins

Keisha Blaise

Admission on Apr. 13, 2023

Admitted on May 1, 2023 2023-BAR-0002-ATTY

Limited Admission Extension on May 1, 2023 2023-BAR-0003-GOV

Limited Admission Extension on May 19, 2023 2023-BAR-0004-GOV

Limited Admission on June 30, 2023 2023-BAR-0005-GOV

Limited Admission on July 13, 2023

Limited Admission on Sept. 12, 2023

Limited Admission on October 17, 2023

Limited Admission Extension on December 7, 2023

To kick-off Law Month, Isa Josephine B. Bazo addresses the bench for the first time as a newly admitted attorney to the CNMI bar. John M. Bradley is sworn in as a limited admission attorney. (May 1, 2023)

2023-BAR-0006-GOV

2023-BAR-0007-GOV

2023-BAR-0008-GOV

2023-BAR-0009-GOV

ADMINISTRATIVE ORDERS

TABLE 8. ADMINISTRATIVE ORDERS

In re Publication: Order for Publication Torres v. Jian Zheng Group, Inc., and Huafeng Guo

In re Publication: Order for Publication Reyes v. Commonwealth

In re Continuing Legal Education Credits for High School Mock Trial Competition: Order

In re Appointment of Judge Pro Tempore Arthur R. Barcinas to Sit on the Commonwealth Superior Court: Order Appointing Judge Pro Tempore

In re Appointment of Judge Pro Tempore Jonathan R. Quan to Sit on the Commonwealth Superior Court: Order Appointing Judge Pro Tempore

In re Appointment of Judge Pro Tempore Arthur R. Barcinas to Sit on the Commonwealth Superior Court: Order Appointing Judge Pro Tempore

Robert Mang v. Robert Naraja, in his official capacity as the Presiding Judge of the CNMI Superior Court

Sablan Enterprises, Inc., v. Victor B. Hocog and Villia Marie Hocog dba V’s Corp., and V’s Corp.

v. Ralph Torres

Superior Court Nos. 98-1311, 99-0212, 99-0213, 99-069, 01-0249, and 990749

Court No. 22-0050

0007-MSC 03/27/2023

In re the Closure of Judiciary Facilities Due to Typhoon Mawar 2023-ADM-

In re the Closure of

Mawar

In re Opening of Rota Centron Hustisia After Typhoon Mawar

In re Appointment of Judge Pro Tempore Arthur R. Barcinas to Sit on the Commonwealth Superior Court: Order Appointing Judge Pro Tempore

In re Closure of Judiciary Facilities Due to Tropical Storm Bolaven; Order

In re Closure of Judiciary Facilities Due to Typhoon Bolaven; Order

Ralph Torres v. CNMI Department of Finance and CNMI Office of the Attorney General

Court No. 23-0097

In re the Appointment of Judge Pro Tempore Arthur R. Barcinas to Sit on the Commonwealth Superior Court, Order Appointing Judge Pro Tempore.

In re the Appointment of Judge Pro Tempore Jonathan R. Quan to Sit on the Commonwealth Superior Court, Order Appointing Judge Pro Tempore. Sablan Enterprises, Inc., v. Victor B. Hocog, et al.

In re Closure of Guma' Hustisia, Iimwal Aweewe, House of Justice Due to Emergency Repair on Water Equipment; Order 2023-ADM0021-MSC 11/12/2023

In re Judiciary's Limited Hours of Operation (Professional Development and Thanksgiving)

In re Continuing Legal Education Credits for the Moot Court Program

In re the Appointment of Judge Pro Tempore Elyze M. Iriarte to Sit on the Commonwealth Superior Court, Order Appointing Judge Pro Tempore.

Commonwealth v. William Abraczinskas

2023-ADM0024-MSC 12/20/2023

In re Judiciary's Limited Hours of Operation (New Year) 2023-ADM0025-MSC 11/29/2023

Judy T. Aldan presented on the Office of the Clerk of the Supreme Court (OCSC) duties and operations to Cher A. Kyota, Deputy Assistant to the Office of the Chief Justice of Palau, while the Palau Judiciary Team was at Guma’ Hustisia. (April 3, 2023)

The Supreme Court hosted the “Law and the Freshman Legislator” program. (January 6, 2023)

Students from Kagman High School attended the Oral Argument of Estate of Moteisou held in the Supreme Court Courtroom. (January 25, 2023)

Pacific Judicial Council delegates took a court tour of the technology available at Guma’ Hustisia. The OCSC presented at the Supreme Court Courtroom on the history of FSX, OCSC paperless and digitization project, and COOP. (December 1, 2023)

Chief Justice Castro fields questions from the students of Koblerville Elementary School during the Kombetsasion portion of the court tour. (November 17, 2023)

Moot Court Champions, coaches, and staff from Marianas High School meet with the Supreme Court to discuss plans for the Moot Court Regionals in Santa Barbara. (December 7, 2023)

EXTERNSHIPS

From May to August, the Supreme Court provided summer externships to 3 individuals:

Supreme Court Summer Clerkship: Jae Hee Kim, a 1L student at the University of Oregon School of Law was a law clerk extern with the Supreme Court from May 22 to August 4, 2023. With a passion for justice and a strong commitment to community service, she has been actively involved in the Student Bar Association as a 1L class representative to help promote equity, diversity, inclusion, and mental health. Originally from Saipan, Jae Hee aims to leverage her legal education to contribute to changing educational policies in the U.S. and its territories. Her goal is to help make quality education accessible to all students regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and socioeconomic status. Jae Hee reviewed policies and procedures, edited rules, and drafted a bench memo.

Undergraduate Externships: From June 13 to August 13, 2024, Hayoung (Joseph) Seo externed the first two weeks with the Office of the Clerk of the Supreme Court digitizing oral arguments recorded on cassette tapes and the remainder of time with the Law Revision Commission. Joseph also shadowed different divisions of the Judiciary including the Office of the Clerk of the Superior Court, Marshals Service Division, and Probation Office. He observed hearings conducted for family court and drug court. He attends Berea College, majoring in Economics with a minor in Law, Ethics, and Society. Through exploring his interests, experiencing undergraduate Moot Court, and encountering personal legal issue field.

Issa Teigita, from the village of Tanapag, externed for the Office of the Cl Kagman High School and has a passion for speech and debate. She profound interest in advocating for current issues.

Judy T. Aldan and Nora V. Borja participated in the Pacific Judicial Council Caseflow Management conference held in Guam. (April 18-19, 2023)

Jae Hee Kim

Hayoung (Joseph) Seo

Issa Teigita

Jae Hee Kim receives a certificate of completion for her time as a Supreme Court Extern. (August 4, 2023)

Extern Hayoung (Joseph) Seo with the Law Revision Commission team. (Summer 2023)

LAW WEEK

PROCLAMATION SIGNING

In a momentous display of unity, the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam jointly hosted a proclamation signing ceremony on April 21, 2023, officially recognizing May 1-5 as Law Week under the theme, Cornerstones of Democracy: Civics, Civility, and Collaboration. Simultaneously marking Law Month (April 21-May 30) and Law Day (May 1), the unique event spanned Rota, Tinian, Saipan, and Guam, with the NMI Judiciary, the U.S. District Court for the NMI, and the Judiciary of Guam collaborating on programming. Government leaders from both jurisdictions delivered inspiring remarks and signed proclamations in simultaneous ceremonies held in each courthouse for in-person and virtual attendees. The event was also broadcast live on KUAM and the local NBC Peacock channel to enhance accessibility. This groundbreaking collaboration highlighted the potential for collective action to address regional challenges.

Guam Governor Lou Leon Guerrero and Lt. Governor Joshua Tenorio were the first to sign the proclamation at the Guam Judicial Center in Hagåtña, followed by NMI Governor Arnold Palacios and Lt. Governor David Apatang at the Guma’ Hustisia. Chief Judge Ramona Mangloña and Magistrate Judge Heather Kennedy of the U.S District Court for the NMI signed a third proclamation. The event concluded with Rota Mayor Aubry Hocog signing at the Rota Centron Hustisia and Tinian Mayor Edwin Aldan signing at the Kotten Tinian.

U.S. District Court of the NMI

Supreme Court justices from both jurisdictions, along with U.S. District Court judges, announced their respective events to celebrate the judicial branch. Members of both Legislatures and the CNMI Bar Association also graced the occasion.

This historic event marked the first time simultaneous broadcasts were used to unite government leaders from across the Marianas for a groundbreaking celebration.

Judiciary of Guam

U.S. District Court of the NMI

Guma’ Hustisia

Zoom perspective of the Proclamation Signing Ceremony. (April 21, 2023)

Rota Centron Hustisia

Kotten Tinian

Throughout Law Month, the Judiciary embarked on a comprehensive community engagement initiative, spanning generations from elementary school students to esteemed elders, through a diverse array of activities showcasing the Judiciary’s multifaceted role in upholding the rule of law. This year’s festivities seamlessly blended established traditions with innovative events, forming a cohesive celebration of democracy’s foundations: civics, civility, and collaboration. The week culminated in a series of captivating events held at Guma’ Hustisia and local schools, all united under the theme “Cornerstones of Democracy: Civics, Civility, and Collaboration.”

Attorney Admissions - The CNMI Bar announced the admission of two applicants to the local bar association: Isa Josephine Bordallo Baza and John Martin Bradley. Bordallo Baza has a J.D. from Mitchell Hamline School of Law and B.A. from the University of Miami. Bradley has a J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center and a B.A. from the University of St. Thomas. Charity R. Hodson, CNMI Bar Association President, conducted their Attorney Admission ceremony on May 1.

Essay and Poster Contest Award Ceremony - A second ceremony also took place on May 1— the recognition ceremony for the winners of the Poster and Essay Contests. The Poster Contest was open to elementary school students, while the Essay Contest was open to middle school students.

37th Annual Attorney General's Cup - The following day, the Supreme Court hosted the annual high school speech competition at the Guma’ Hustisia: the 37th Annual Attorney General’s Cup. This was the first competition to take place since COVID-19 – a 36month hiatus. Competitors made arguments before a mock United States Supreme Court for two real cases, Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard and Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina, following the competition’s theme: Affirmative Action in Higher Education.

Justices and Judges in the Classroom - In continuation of an annual tradition, Justices and Judges visited schools during the months of April and May and presented lessons on civics, the functions of the government, and the role of all citizens in democracy. Students actively engaged with the presenters, asking insightful questions about their duties and experience. “It was a great way to really engage with the younger generation in a meaningful way,” said Patrick Quimby, Law Clerk to Chief Justice Castro. The Justices and Judges visited a total of 11 schools: Dandan Middle School, Dr. Rita H. Inos Jr. Sr. High School, Grace Christian Academy, Isla Montessori School, Kagman Elementary School, Marianas High School, Mount Carmel School, Saipan Community School, San Vicente Elementary School, Sinapalo Elementary School, and Tinian Jr. Sr. High School.

Man Amko' Takeover Day - Culminating Law Week and honoring Older Americans Month, two esteemed elders graced Guma’ Hustisia on May 12 for Man Amko’ Takeover Day. Nisiana Winior assumed the mantle of Chief Justice, while Esther Nimer presided as Presiding Judge for the day. This enduring tradition grants elders invaluable insights into the Judiciary’s vital role in safeguarding the Commonwealth’s legal framework for all its citizens. Man Amko’ also assumed various positions within the Executive branch, Legislature, and Mayoral offices, completing a comprehensive celebration of civic engagement.

LAW MONTH

Attorneys Isa Bordallo Baza (left) and John Martin Bradley (center) await the commencement of their admission ceremony alongside CNMI Bar President Charity R. Hodson. (May 1, 2023)

Winners of the Essay and Poster Contest, accompanied by their family members, members of the bench, and Judiciary Staff. (May 1, 2023)

Attorney’s General’s Cup winner Jill Anne O. Mallari (fifth from right) with her coaches and judges of the competition. (May 5, 2023)

Judge Camacho engages with Kagman Elementary School students. (March 1, 2023)

Members of the bench welcome Chief Justice for the Day Nisia Winior (left) and Presiding Judge for the Day Esther Nimer (right) to the Judiciary for the Man Amko’ Takeover Day. (May 12, 2023)

OFFICE OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL

In 2023, the Office of the General Counsel (“OGC”) continued to provide a broad spectrum of advisory legal functions and oversee various legal issues affecting the court system and its administration on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. In particular, the Office was instrumental in providing guidance, assistance, and support in drafting and compiling the Judiciary’s budget request for Fiscal Year 2024 and in all ARPA expenditures, including e-Recording for the Commonwealth Recorder’s Office, eCourt Case Management System, Broadband Equity Access, and Development Project, and Data Center Project.

The OGC took the lead on the Court Forms Redesign Project with the National Center for State Courts (NCSC). Our court, along with five other courts, was chosen out of 40 jurisdictions to participate in the NCSC’s Winter Forms Camp. The Camp gave an opportunity for NCSC staff to provide intensive training and technical assistance to help courts revise one form or a small set of forms to improve plain language and readability. At the end of the camp, the forms were redesigned, translated into plain language, and user tested. To date, OGC has assisted with revising and redesigning small claim court forms and divorce proceedings court forms.

In addition to the advisory functions, the OGC conducted trainings to Judiciary managers and staff on various court policies and also served as the court’s Language Access Plan and Policy interpreter trainer and Equal Employee Opportunity (EEO) Officer.

The OGC, among other duties, thoroughly reviewed and assisted the Mental Health Court Docket with their Bureau of Justice Assistance Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program (JMHCP) grant application, authored and reviewed procurement documents such a invitation to bid, request for proposals, request for quotations, notice to proceed, and contracts, reviewed over 250 human resources documents, participated in 496 meetings, coordinated in planning Court events such as Law and the Freshman Legislator, Law Week Proclamation Signing, Law Week events: Justices and Judges in the Classroom, Law Day, and AG’s Cup, Commonwealth Cultural Day, Professional Development, Moot Court, and court tours, reviewed sensitive and confidential legal issues for the Supreme Court and Superior Court, and served as Acting Director of Courts.

From left: Deputy General Counsel Matthew J. Brown, General Counsel Hyun Jae Lee, and Paralegal Mary Bernadette (Mabby) C. Glass. (November 21, 2023)

General Counsel Hyun Jae Lee presents on Law Day at the Isla Montessori School as part of Justices and Judges in the Classroom. (March 20, 2023)

Deputy General Counsel Matthew J. Brown with Budget and Finance Director John T. Villagomez during Judicial Council regular meeting. (February 8, 2023)

Paralegal Mabby Glass works with National Center for State Courts Senior Court Management Consultant Lonni Summers during a Winter Forms Camp Session. (February 8, 2023)

TABLE 10. TRAININGS CONDUCTED BY OFFICE OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL

NAME OF TRAINING DATE

MANAGERS’ TRAINING ON THE JUDICIARY FEDERAL GRANTS POLICY AND SPENDING PLAN 04/14/2023

NMI JUDICIARY’S EEO POLICY AND NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY TRAINING AM SESSION 05/12/2023

NMI JUDICIARY’S EEO POLICY AND NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY TRAINING PM SESSION 05/12/2023

LANGUAGE ACCESS PROGRAM POLICY (LAPP) TRAINING TO JUDICIARY STAFF

06/09/2023

COURT INTERPRETER TRAINING 08/10/2023

LAPP TRAINING TO JUDICIARY STAFF 10/20/2023

TABLE 12. LIST OF PROJECTS ASSISTED BY THE OFFICE OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL

NAME OF PROJECT TASKS COMPLETED BY THE OFFICE OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL

Attended internal meetings and meetings with Trimin Systems and Turnkey Solutions

E-RECORDING PROJECT

ECOURT PROJECT

Reviewed meeting agendas, materials, and minutes

Reviewed emails and memorandums

Provided legal guidance on indexing, recording, rejecting documents, and other inquiries

Attended internal meetings and meetings with Journal Technologies, Inc.

Reviewed meeting agendas and minutes

Reviewed eCourt task for SME:fields

Reviewed eCourt project plan and contract

Provided legal guidance on inquiries, as needed

Attended meetings with On-Call A&E Sam McPhetres of Guma Architects, LLC

ARPA HALL/DATA CENTER PROJECT

COURT FORMS REDESIGNED PROJECT

ELEVATOR MODERNIZATION PROJECT

Reviewed 90% Design and provided legal comments

Reviewed 100% Design and provided legal comments

Provided legal guidance on inquiries, as needed

Attended National Center for State Courts’ Winter Forms Camp

Redesigned small claims court forms

Redesigned divorce proceedings court forms

Created PDF fillable forms, as request by divisions

Reviewed permit application

Assisted with sole source procurement

Attended meetings with Oceania Elevator Company, LLC

Reviewed meeting agendas and minutes

General Counsel Hyun Jae Lee conducts a mandatory training on the NMI Judiciary EEO and Non-discrimination Policy to Judiciary staff. (May 12, 2023)

SUPERIOR COURT

Article IV of the NMI Constitution established the Superior Court as a trial court with original jurisdiction over civil, criminal, and other specialized matters. The court consists of five judges appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate to serve an initial six-year term. After the initial term, a judge may undergo a retention election for another term.

While most trials are held at the Guma’ Hustisia on Saipan, the court also conducts proceedings at the Kotten Tinian and the Centron Hustisia. The court oversees the Superior Court Clerk's Office, Family Court Division, Drug Court, Mental Health Court Docket, and Office of Adult Probation Supervision. The court is committed to provide accessible justice to all. It ensures that indigent criminal defendants have attorneys, litigants with limited English proficiency have interpreters, and parties have an accurate record for appeal to the Supreme Court.

21, 2023)

Judge Wesley M. Bogdan gives his farewell speech during his retirement ceremony at the 2023 Professional Development Conference. (November

JUDGES

Presiding Judge Roberto C. Naraja was born on July 17, 1955 on Saipan. He received his B.S. in Political Science from California Lutheran College in 1979 and graduated with his Juris Doctor from Gonzaga University School of Law in 1982. After receiving his law degree, Presiding Judge Naraja served as Assistant Legal Counsel to the CNMI Resident Representative to Washington, D.C. He subsequently worked as an Assistant Public Defender and then as an Assistant Attorney General. Presiding Judge Naraja has also served as both the Chief Public Defender and the Attorney General. Thereafter, Presiding Judge Naraja ventured into private practice establishing his own law firm.

Judge Kenneth L. Govendo was born in Syracuse, New York on January 28, 1945. In 1966, he graduated with his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Alfred University in Alfred, New York. In 1969, he obtained his Juris Doctor from the University of Toledo College of Law.

After law school, Judge Govendo became a general practitioner in Redondo Beach, California, and worked part-time as a senior staff attorney for the Legal Aid Foundation of the South Bar Association. He served as District Attorney in Palau and as Assistant Attorney General on Saipan during the Trust Territory period. He also served as Assistant Legislative Counsel for the Fifth Northern Marianas District Legislature and was legal counsel for the Department of Natural Resources, Board of Elections, and Civil Service Commission.

Judge Joseph N. Camacho graduated from Northern Marianas College with his Associate’s degree. He went on to obtain a Bachelor of Arts in History from San Jose State University, a Masters of Public Administration from Seattle University, and a Juris Doctor from Gonzaga University School of Law. Judge Camacho served as a prosecutor for the CNMI Office of Attorney General before establishing his own law firm with his wife, who is also an attorney. He was admitted to practice law in the US. Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals from the Ninth Circuit, U.S. District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands, and Commonwealth courts.

Judge Teresa K. Kim-Tenorio ascended to the bench on December 22, 2013. In 1997, she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. In May 2001, she graduated from New England School of Law with her Juris Doctor degree and is licensed to practice law in Michigan, the Northern Mariana Islands, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, the U.S. District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit.

In 2015, Judge Kim-Tenorio actively participated alongside other justice professionals in the implementation of the first ever the NMI Drug Court Program. She oversees the program as the initial Drug Court judge. Using this experience, she assisted in the formation of the Mental Health Court in 2021. Additionally, on March 8, 2016, at the recommendation of Chief Judge Ramona Mangloña of the NMI District Court, Ninth Circuit Chief Judge Sidney R. Thomas appointed Judge Kim-Tenorio to serve as a designated judge in the District Court, a role she continues to perform today. In September 2017, Judge Kim-Tenorio was appointed to preside over the Family Court docket. Upon noticing the difficulty community members faced in attending hearings during work hours, she spearheaded the implementation of the Commonwealth’s first night court docket. In November 2023, she began presiding over night sessions on child support matters, improving access to justice for working parents.

Judge Wesley M. Bogdan ascended to the bench in August 2017. He is licensed with the CNMI Bar and holds an inactive license status in New Mexico. After receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business and Political Science from the University of Texas, Judge Bogdan returned to his home in New Mexico and earned his J.D. at the University of New Mexico School of Law. He then worked as a Judicial Clerk for the New Mexico Court of Appeals in Albuquerque from 1992 to 1994. In 1994, he served as both an Assistant Public Defender and an Assistant Attorney General for the NMI before moving to private practice for several years. In 1996, Judge Bogdan worked as the Deputy Director of the Legal Department and for the Acting President of the Asian Football Confederation in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Judge Bogdan is a National Judicial College Certified Mediator and also served in the past as a member of the CNMI Bar Association Disciplinary Committee and as the Chairman of the CNMI Bar Association Continuing Legal Education Committee Judge Bogan retired from the bench on December 15, 2023.

Presiding Judge Roberto C. Naraja

Judge Kenneth L. Govendo

Judge Joseph N. Camacho

Judge Teresa K. Kim-Tenorio

Judge Wesley M. Bogdan

LAW CLERKS

Janina Maratita serves as Special Assistant to Presiding Judge Roberto C. Naraja since January 2023. She earned her J.D. from Northwestern School of Law of Lewis and Clark College and B.A. in English and B.S. in Criminal Justice/Criminology from Chaminade University of Honolulu. Before joining the Judiciary, Janina served as a Policy Analyst under the NMI Office of the Governor for more than five years. She has also taught at the Northern Marianas College as an Adjunct Instructor in the Criminal Justice Department for over six years. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, Pacific reading Pacific Islands literature, and spending quality time with family and friends.

Tina V. Ngo, law clerk to Presiding Judge Roberto C. Naraja, from November 2021 to November 2023, earned her J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law and her B.A., summa cum laude, from the University of California, Berkeley. Prior to joining the Judiciary, Tina worked as a litigation associate in the San Francisco offices of Alston & Bird LLP and Baker Botts LLP, where she focused on a broad range of civil litigation matters including antitrust and intellectual property. She worked as a judicial extern for the United States District Court, Northern District of California. Tina served as the Vice President of the Vietnamese American Bar Association of Northern California in 2020-21. In 2018, she was named “Outstanding Volunteer” by the Bar Association of San Francisco for her commitment to pro bono work.

Emilia E. McManus, law clerk to Presiding Judge Roberto C. Naraja, since October 2023, is from Bethesda, Marylan. She earned her J.D. from George Washington University Law School and her B.A. in Political Science from Dickinson College. Prior to joining the Judiciary, Emilia was a judicial extern with the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Maryland. She is currently licensed to practice law in Washington, D.C.

Daniel B. Johnson, law clerk to Associate Judge Kenneth L. Govendo, is from Virginia, but grew up living all over the world, including Germany, Russia, Belgium, and Japan. Before becoming a lawyer, he taught middle and high school English. He swam breaststroke competitively during college. He graduated from the Catholic University of America School of Law in Washington, DC. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in English, French, and History from King University; a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from King University; and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Sewanee, The University of the South.

Abigail Akyiaw, law clerk to Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho since February 2023, earned her J.D. from California Western School of Law and her B.A. in Sociology from the University of California, Riverside. She interned with the California Innocence Project and New Media Rights during law school. She spends her downtime writing poetry and fiction and enjoying trips to the beach.

Gregory P. Cenac Jr., served as law clerk to Associate Judge Teresa K. Kim-Tenorio from April 2021 to July 2023. Greg is licensed to practice law in Colorado and the NMI. He earned his J.D. from the George Washington University Law School, his L.L.M. in Admiralty and Maritime Law from Tulane University Law School, and his B.A. in International Affairs from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Greg aims to apply the wealth of experience that he gained as a law clerk to further serve the NMI.

James V. Hallisey, Law Clerk to Associate Judge Teresa K. Kim-Tenorio, graduated from Boston University School of Law in 2023. As Technical Editor of the BU Journal of Science and Technology Law, James explored the legal ramifications of off-world mining. He is an avid reader, skier, and birdwatcher. A long way from his native New Jersey, James enjoys the excellent weather in the islands. He is grateful for the opportunity to live and work in the NMI.

Kara L. Woods served as law clerk to Associate Judge Wesley M. Bogdan from February 2022 to September 2023. She received her undergraduate degree in Sociocultural Anthropology from Brigham Young University in 2017 and went on to earn her J.D. from Sandra Day O’Conner College of Law, Arizona State University, in 2021. During law school she had the opportunity to complete internships with the Ateneo Human Rights Center in the Philippines and the Judicial System Monitoring Program in Timor-Leste. Kara is licensed to practice law in Washington D.C. and has a passion for completing volunteer work with teenagers.

Abigail Akyiaw

James V. Hallisey

Kara L. Woods

Tina V. Ngo

Emilia E. McManus

Daniel B. Johnson

Gregory P. Cenac

Janina Maratita

JUDICIAL ASSISTANTS

Rose Lynette M. Camacho, Chamber Administrator to Presiding Judge Roberto C. Naraja, began her career as a Publications Clerk for the Law Revision Commission in June 1996. Through the years, she worked for both the private sector and other government agencies before returning back to the Judiciary in 2009. She has been Presiding Judge Roberto C. Naraja’s Chamber Administrator since 2012. Lynette’s hobbies include cooking, decorating, and spending time with family and friends.

Daisy S. Mendiola, Judicial Assistant to Associate Judge Kenneth L. Govendo, joined the Superior Court in 2004 as an Administrative Clerk for the Superior Court Office of the Adult Probation Supervision before being appointed as Judicial Assistant to Associate Judge Kenneth L. Govendo in January 2022. Ms. Mendiola also worked at the Superior Court Office of the Clerk of Court as a Deputy Clerk II from June 2010 until her appointment as a Judicial Assistant. During her tenure with the Superior Court, she was awarded the Associate Judges Awards in 2021 and 2022.

Delia S. Magofna, Judicial Assistant to Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho, worked as a Deputy Clerk I for two years. She also serves as the primary timekeeper for the Superior Court. Prior to working at the CNMI Superior Court, Delia worked as a legal secretary/legal assistant for Calvo, Fisher & Jacob LLP for 13 years, culminating in over 24 years of experience in the legal field.

Sabrina Lynn Dela Cruz, Judicial Assistant to Associate Judge Teresa K. Kim-Tenorio, graduated from Kagman High School in 2006. She began her career in the Judiciary in September 2009. She was hired as a scanning clerk under the ARRA Grant for 3 years. Then, she moved on as a Deputy Clerk I and held that position for 8 years. She was assigned as courtroom clerk for Associate Judge Kenneth L. Govendo as a Family Court clerk up until the Family Court Docket was transferred over to Associate Judge Teresa Kim-Tenorio. Not long after that, Sabrina was reassigned to clerk for Judge Kim-Tenorio as a Family Court clerk. She then applied and was hired as a Deputy Clerk II for the Drug Court Division in 2020. Finally, after only three months of experience as a Deputy Clerk II for the Drug Court Division, she was hired as a Judicial Assistant to Associate Judge Teresa Kim-Tenorio. Sabrina has four wonderful children. She enjoys spending time with family and friends.

Vivian S. Dela Cruz, Judicial Assistant to Associate Judge Wesley M. Bogdan, has served in her position since August 2017. She was a Judicial Assistant for Retired Judge David A. Wiseman from March 2001 through May 2016. Prior to working for the Judiciary, Ms. Dela Cruz worked at the Law Offices of David A. Wiseman from 1984 through March 2001. She was certified on May 1, 2007, as a Trial Court Transcriptionist and was later sworn in as a Special Deputy Clerk on June 1, 2007. On March 9, 2016, she was appointed by Chief Justice Alexandro C. Castro as the LEP Coordinator.

Clockwise from top left: Judicial Assistants Daisy S. Mendiola, Sabrina Lynn Dela Cruz, Delia S. Magofna, Vivian S. Dela Cruz, and Chamber Administrator Rose Lynette M. Camacho. (February 23, 2023)

OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF THE SUPERIOR COURT

The year 2023 was an exciting and busy year for the Office of the Clerk of the Superior Court (“COC”). The COC started the year with a new General Calendar replacing the last calendar issued on August 27, 2021. There were no significant changes from previous court settings and case assignments. except that Judges were given the discretion to make changes as they see fit. The Judiciary purchased a new case management system, eCourt, replacing the outdated Justware system. Staff spent many work hours testing the new case management system to include data verification and entry. Clerks also held regular weekly virtual meetings with the Journal Technology consultant.

The Judiciary hosted the 2023 Pacific Judicial Technology Conference. The staff participated in the showcasing of our court technology to include the different platforms we use. Several demonstrations on electronic filing, virtual hearings, and Ticketing Kiosk Systems were done. The COC also hosted judiciary staff from Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia for a weeklong on-site training through courtroom shadowing and one-on-one meetings on topics such as the general court calendar, case flow process, customer services, archives, and requests for documents.

The COC participated in the National Center for State Court Winter Form Camp. The Camp provided a forum to assist jurisdictions in revising court forms to improve plain language and readability. It involved a form revision and user testing through seven virtual sessions between the months of January and March 2023. Deputy Clerks, Novelyn Wania-Tenorio and Brandon Delos Reyes were selected from the Office of the Clerk of Court’s Office to participate in this project.

The COC played a crucial role in the smooth introduction of Night Court in November. Under the supervision of Associate Judge Kim-Tenorio, the Judiciary initiated Night Court sessions for certain Family Court matters. The COC remains active in the courtroom and provides assistance to Judge Kim-Tenorio as the program grows.

Data Systems Analyst Mark G. Hidalgo demonstrates the functionality and benefits of the Self-Help Service Center. This session provides valuable insights into how the center can assist individuals in navigating the legal process independently and efficiently. (November 29, 2023)

DOCUMENT RETENTION PROJECT

The documents retention project progressed steadily throughout the year with over 6,705 case files scanned and 4,994 case files disposed on all three islands combined. We have seen an increase in case files being audited, paving the way for the actual disposal of court case files. A disposition method is being arranged to bury the scanned and audited case files at the landfills on Rota and Tinian. The staff on both islands have communicated with the Department of Public Works to prepare for the disposition.

TABLE 13. DOCUMENT RETENTION PROJECT STATISTICS

JURY COMMISSION 2023

On March 25, 2023, Presiding Judge Naraja issued Jury Commission No. 2023-001. This commission instructed COC to retire the 2021 jury panel and begin drawing new panels from the most recent voter registration roster. On March 3, 2023, a special session was held in Courtroom 220A before Associate Judge Camacho to draw the panel. A total of 26 jury panels were drawn, with 150 names listed in each panel.

NATIONAL CENTER FOR STATE COURTS COURT STATISTICS PROJECT: 2023 TRIAL COURT MATRIX

Under the guidance of Deputy Clerk III Novelyn Wania-Tenorio, the COC completed and submitted a comprehensive statistical reporting matrix for the trial court. This is the third year that the NMI Judiciary participated in this reporting project. The Court Statistics Project enables the state court to provide caseload statistics using a standardized reporting framework so that they can be easily compared. From here, the National Center for State Courts uses these data to analyze and compare state court data to publish national trends that can be used by court managers and policymakers.

NIGHT COURT SESSIONS

The Judiciary held its first Night Court session on November 7, 2023 in Courtroom 217 before Judge Teresa Kim-Tenorio. Most of the cases heard in the first session involved child support matters.

ASSOCIATE JUDGE WESLEY BOGDAN’S RETIREMENT

Associate Judge Wesley Bogdan’s last day with the Judiciary was December 15, 2023. Presiding Judge Naraja issued a memorandum setting the distribution of Judge Bogdan’s cases to the other judges. This arrangement has been working smoothly. Clerks working in former Judge Bogdan’s courtroom have been monitoring the progress of these cases, since they will likely be assigned to the new judge. Deputy Attorney General Lillian Ada Tenorio was nominated by Governor Arnold I. Palacios to be the next associate judge. The nomination requires Senate confirmation.

ARPA Scanning Clerk Elvira M. Quitugua prepares the documents for scanning at the Rota Centron Hustisia. (June 6, 2023)

STAFF TRAININGS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE

The annual Professional Development Conference was held on November 20-21, 2023, at the Guma’ Hustisia and Kensington Hotel. Staff with exemplary commitment and accomplishments throughout the year were awarded during this function. The Office of the Clerk of the Superior Court Award was given to Deputy Clerk I Gregorio U. Tudela and Data Systems Analyst Mark G. Hidalgo. Tudela also won the Superior Court Award—the Family Court Division Award. The COC staff attended a series of trainings and workshops throughout the two-day event.

TABLE14.TRAININGS

01/5/2023

01/20/2023

02/01/2023

WinterFormsCamp-TeamCNMI-ProjectKickOff

WinterFormsCamp-TeamCNMI-FormReviewandRevision

WinterFormsCamp-TeamCNMI-UserTestingTraining

02/03/2023 CaseTracking

02/08/2023

WinterFormsCamp-TeamCNMI-UserTestingPlanning

02/10/2023 CustomerKiosk

02/16/2023 ProcessingClearance

03/1/2023

WinterFormsCamp-TeamCNMI-UserTestingDebrief

03/09/2023 JurySelectioninaPost-PandemicWorld

03/16/2023 WinterFormsCamp-TeamCNMI-GroupPresentation

03/30/2023

WinterFormsCamp-TeamCNMI-ClosingandNextStep

NationalCenterStateCourtsviaZoom

NationalCenterStateCourtsviaZoom

NationalCenterStateCourtsviaZoom

DeputyClerkIIINovelynA.Wania-Tenorio andDeputyClerkBrandonH.DelosReyes

DeputyClerkIIINovelynA.Wania-Tenorio andDeputyClerkBrandonH.DelosReyes

DeputyClerkIIINovelynA.Wania-Tenorio andDeputyClerkBrandonH.DelosReyes

DeputyClerkIIINovelyn COCStaff

NationalCenterStateCourtsviaZoom

InformationSystemOffice

DeputyClerkIIINovelynA.Wania-Tenorio andDeputyClerkBrandonH.DelosReyes

DeputyClerkIBrianSalasandDataSystems AnalystMarkG.Hidalgo

DeputyClerkIIINovelynA.Wania-Tenorioand DeputyClerkIIRosieJaneT.Ada COCStaff

NationalCenterStateCourtsviaZoom

NationalCenterStateCourtsviaZoom

NationalCenterStateCourtsviaZoom

NationalCenterStateCourtsviaZoom

DeputyClerkIIINovelynA.Wania-Tenorio andDeputyClerkBrandonH.DelosReyes

ClerkoftheSuperiorCourtPatrickV.Diaz andDeputyClerkIIINovelynA.WaniaTenorio

DeputyClerkIIINovelynA.Wania-Tenorio andDeputyClerkBrandonH.DelosReyes

DeputyClerkIIINovelynA.Wania-Tenorio andDeputyClerkBrandonH.DelosReyes

04/11/2023 PacificJudicialCouncilCaseFlowManagementTraining

08/21/2023

10/16-19/2023

PacificJudicialCouncilGuam-JusticeDaniel Crothers ClerkoftheSuperiorCourtPatrickV.Diaz, DeputyClerkIIINovelynA.Wania-Tenorio

NOAA

GuamCoalitionAgainstSexualAssaultand FamilyViolence

DeputyClerkIIINovelynA.Wania-Tenorio

Winter Forms Camp User Testing Training. (February 1, 2023)

The COC staff attends an eCourt training session held at the COC conference room. (November 15, 2023)

Pacific Judicial Council Case Flow Management Training held in Guam. (April 11, 2023)

Deputy Clerk I Gregorio U. Tudela and Data Systems Analyst Mark G. Hidalgo receives their award during the Professional Development. (November 21, 2023)

The charts and graphs below provide the data collected from January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023.

Graph 1. 2023 Case Filings

Graph 2. Cases Filed by Island

The Ethnicity Report details the ethnicity of defendants and plaintiffs in all civil, criminal, traffic, and small claims cases who appeared before the Superior Court between January 1 to December 31, 2023. The information was extracted from the Justware Case Management System which stores all the case information, including ethnicity. This chart also provides the information on the Freely Associated States contact with the court system, as compared to other ethnic backgrounds.

TABLE23.ETHNICITYREPORT

*Does not identify with any ethnicity.

*CNMI includes Chamorro and Carolinians only.

**Others include American Indian/Alaskan Native, Asian or Pacific Islander, Bangladesh, Chinese, Caucasian, Japanese, Korean, Thai, and Russian.

DRUG COURT DIVISION

The Drug Court Division (“DCD”), established in 2016, provides an appropriate and effective treatment mechanism to assist offenders with substance use disorders. The program was implemented with guidelines from the National Association of Drug Court Professionals’ best practice standards and evidencebased strategies.

Mandates and Sustainability

Established by the CNMI Drug Court Act, the program offers a rigorous 18-24 month treatment program for participants, adhering to the national model and its 10 key components. Dedicated staff, including Case Managers and Treatment Court Officers, collaborate to deliver effective treatment and ensure accountability through daily support, resource coordination, and community supervision measures. Strong partnerships with the Judiciary’s Marshals Service Division, as well as the Department of Public Safety’s Drug Enforcement & Task Force, and the Department of Corrections, further bolster this approach.

Strategic Plan

In order to optimize performance while utilizing limited resources, DCD collaborates with both internal and external partners. The strategic initiatives are specifically aligned with Goals 1, 3, 4, and 6 of the Judiciary's Strategic Plan, and they include monitoring and assessing performance.

Goal No. 1: Swift and Fair Case Flow and Time Standards

Entrance protocol to be completed within 14 days of referral from the Office of the Attorney General.

Ensure timely and accurate data entry for both new referrals and existing participants.

Properly document each case through consistent file maintenance and data input.

Prioritize referrals to appropriate agencies to ensure participants receive immediate assistance and support throughout the Court program.

Goal No. 3: Development and Improvement of Specialty Courts

Implement a data collection system to track co-occurring disorders.

Seek technical assistance from federal partners.

Provide training on problem-solving courts to both internal and external stakeholders.

Goal No. 4: Enhancement of Technology and Court Data Systems

Digitize all new and existing case files.

Maintain access to a comprehensive case management system to store all essential data.

Ensure all team members have access to the relevant data they need.

Goal No. 6: Community Engagement

Maintain professional partnerships with community agencies.

Increase the number of community presentations.

Encourage the involvement of other agencies to connect all participants to consistent community trainings and opportunities without violating confidentiality.

Outreach by the Drug Court Team to Tinian Jr. Sr. High School Students. (May 16, 2023)

the NMI Drug Court Summit. (December 14, 2023)

Professional Development

Efforts to ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of drug court programs began with concentrated implementation. One of the key foundations of these programs is training to produce positive outcomes for the community, increase productivity, and provide interdisciplinary growth and development for multidisciplinary Drug Court Teams. DCD attended the following trainings and conferences:

Motivational Interviewing

Crisis Management Training

Matrix Model Training, SART Training

Treatment Court Coordinators Training, Oklahoma City

All Rise 2023, Houston, TX

OJP TFSC Training

EEOC and Non-Discrimination Policy Training

LAPP Refresher Training, Crisis Management Training

NDCI Treatment Court Onsite Training, DC Stakeholder's Meeting

Defense Attorney Practitioner Training

Judges Practitioner Training

Drug Court Summit 2023, Guam Coalition: Call to Action

Grants Financial Management Certification

National Drug Trends Now

Drug Court Services

Drug Court received an average of 8 referrals, and throughout the year, served an average of 28 active participants per quarter. Out of the total referrals, 3 were deemed unsuitable for the program, 2 were terminated, and 8 successfully graduated. Active participants underwent comprehensive and holistic treatment including frequent drug testing and case management. Additionally, the program involved intensive judicial interaction, aggressive community supervision, and substance and alcohol treatment services throughout the year.

Drug Court maintains a strong partnership with the Marshals Service Division, Department of Public Safety, Department of Corrections, and other law enforcement agencies to ensure participants are engaged in a comprehensive accountability track. In addition to the services above, the Drug Court Staff ensured continuum of care: coordinated health exams and education, imposed informal sanctions, distributed incentives, received and distributed personal donations and linked participants to community resources and faith-based support. Family orientations were also conducted for accepted cases.

Drug Court Graduations

Eight participants successfully completed the drug treatment program, fulfilled all supervision obligations, and secured employment or continued their higher education. This year marked the ninth graduation since the Drug Court's establishment eight years ago, with two ceremonies held in 2023

TABLE 26. NUMBER OF DRUG COURT PARTICIPANTS BY PHASE AND

Drug Court team at All Rise 2023 Conference in Houston, Texas. (June 29, 2023)

FAMILY COURT DIVISION

The Family Court Division (“FCD”) provides administrative support to the Family Court. Staff assist the Clerk of Court in the processing of pleadings and distributing orders for pro se clients appearing before the Family Court judge. Alternative Dispute Resolution (“ADR”) services are also available to clients who prefer to resolve their disputes through mediation. Currently, there are three certified Family Court mediators and plans are underway to increase the number of mediators to ensure cases are promptly resolved. The FCD also performs home studies for cases involving custody, paternity, divorce, adoption, and guardianship.

Pro Se Services

Assisting pro se clients remains a high priority for the FCD. Services include:

Providing information about filing procedures

Preparing appropriate court forms and filing fees

Reviewing petitions, complaints, and other pleadings prior to filing to ensure compliance with format requirements

Searching for case information such as hearing dates and case status

Distributing court orders and contacting court litigants to remind them of hearing date and deadlines to submit certain documents and pleadings

See Table 30 for breakdown of services rendered.

Electronic Forms

FCD Pro se forms are available in person and downloadable for the public on the Judiciary’s website. FCD plans to reformat all forms to fillable PDF format and to be made available on the Judiciary’s website by summer 2024. In 2023, normal operations resumed and clients requested and submitted pro se forms directly with the FCD office.

Alternative Dispute Resolution (Mediation)

The FCD’s ADR Program expands its mediation options, offering parties a confidential, cost-effective alternative to litigation. Neutral facilitators guide disputing parties towards reaching mutually agreeable solutions, avoiding emotional and financial burdens. No pro se cases were referred for mediation this year. Most mediation referrals for the year came from private attorneys, rather than ordered by the court.

DNA Paternity Testing

The FCD oversees genetic testing between on-island and off-island medical facilities, the parties, and their respective attorneys of record, if any. FCD coordinates sample collections, notice requirements, reporting of test results, and cost recovery with all appropriate parties. The cost recovery for the DNA tests is governed by 8 CMC § 1715 Supervision of these essential tests leads to the speedy resolution of contested paternity cases

The FCD partners with Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings ("LabCorp") to ensure prompt processing of samples for testing. In 2023, there were four cases referred for DNA paternity testing.

Home Study

In 2023, a total of 14 home studies were ordered and conducted. A home study is a review of living conditions of parties who are involved with custody or visitation issues. It also includes the following background information: health status, prior criminal conviction, drug use, and financial status. A home study aids the judge in making a decision by ensuring that the living conditions are safe and livable for the child or children. Home study visits and reports are conducted by FCD staff.

Family Court Team from left: Acting Family Court Manager Roxanne C. Torres, Family Court Service Specialist Adeline C. Terayama, Judicial Assistant to Associate Judge Teresa Kim-Tenorio Sabrina Dela Cruz, & Deputy Clerk I Gregorio U. Tudela. (November 21, 2023)

Referral Services

The FCD facilities court-ordered social service referrals for clients. Parties referred by the judge visits the FCD office for processing, and the assigned agency reports back on their progress and compliance. These reports inform the judge’s decision. Notably, in 2023, the Community Guidance Centered received 10 FCD referrals for intake and assessment.

Separating Parents Class

Acting Family Court Manager Roxanne C. Torres attends the 2023 Crimes Against Children Conference in Dallas, Texas. (August 6, 2023)

Separating Parents classes are held every quarter in the months of February, May, August, and November. The classes are held in the courtroom to accommodate an increasing number of participants. Classes are facilitated by Mr. Joseph Kevin Villagomez, Clinical Supervisor for the Treatment and Recovery at the Community Guidance Center, and Associate Judge Teresa Kim-Tenorio. In 2023, 23 participants attended the Separating parents Class.

Compact Impact Data

The FCD continues to collect data of clients from the Freely Associated States (“FAS”). For 2023, the data are as follows:

MENTAL HEALTH COURT DOCKET

On July 3, 2021, the NMI Supreme Court established the Mental Health Court Docket Program (MHCD) through Administrative Order 2021-ADM-0010-RUL. The MHCD is a voluntary program that provides a holistic evidence-based approach in bringing together criminal justice agencies and mental health professionals to identify and treat participants with serious mental illness.

The Mental Health Court’s 2023 Annual Report highlights the court’s commitment to promoting a holistic approach to justice and addressing the dynamic needs of its participants. The report provides an overview of the court’s activities and achievements over the past year, including key initiatives and outcomes in areas such as structuring, ongoing experimentation with participant approaches, staffing adjustments, professional development, and exploring solutions for treatment services including potential residential facilities.

Addressing the limited availability of treatment services on island, MHCD proactively sought and secured a federal grant which provides the opportunity to expand and ensure its sustainability and sub-contracting with treatment provider. Westcare Pacific has been selected and to sub-contract for the grant to prioritize and focus treatment for MHC participants. Westcare’s treatment will start during the implementation year, year two of the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program (JMHCP) grant.

Meanwhile, continued collaborative efforts with community providers increased the availability of counseling services and expanded provider engagement. Nevertheless, the MHCD staff continues to face gaps in treatment availability, required to implement alternative options to ensure responsiveness of participant behaviors. The division has undergone a repositioning of the clinical liaison position into treatment coordinator position. This decision has enhanced the effectiveness of the position. The team has also continuously networked to look for residential facility and housing options with the non-profit organization, Second Wind. Despite resource constraints, the court has persisted in its efforts to address the overcoming challenges and hurdles faced in providing comprehensive support to participants.

Stakeholder engagement remains pivotal in program assessment and development, utilizing trial-and-error strategies. Two workshop sessions convened with key stakeholders in March and September. These workshops led to the introduction of the Conditional Discharge option, allowing for discharge with specified conditions tailored to each individual. This approach acknowledges participant’s efforts within their plea agreement terms while avoiding legal penalties associated with the process. The MHC celebrated the success of its first two participants in a Conditional Discharge Hearing on January 26, 2024.

This year, the Court celebrated the first Treatment Court Month and Mental Health Awareness Month. The joint proclamation signing ceremony of Drug Court and MHCD highlighted the court’s commitment to promoting inclusivity and raising awareness of mental health issues. Notably, this is the first year May has been recognized as National Treatment Court Month, highlighting inclusivity of all treatment court types.

What’s one thing you’d like to improve about your work environment? Increasing the availability of different resources.

If you could switch jobs with anyone in the Judiciary for a week, who would it be? An Associate Judge.

What is the single most important thing to help you navigate a challenge at work? Working with a good leader and team.

If you could give one piece of advice to someone newly starting the Judiciary, what would it be and why? Get a space heater and boots, preferably UGGs.

If you could eliminate one food so no one could eat it ever again, what would you destroy? Sugar.

What did you get into the most trouble for with your parents as a kid? Getting kicked out of the house for coming home way past my curfew.

If money and time were no object, what would you be doing right now? Travelling the world.

Which is better overall – the Supreme Court or the Superior Court? The Superior Court.

The MHCD concluded 2023 with four active participants and one participant on hold, as well as received one referral in May who was ultimately denied legal eligibility. The following table provides insight into the MCHD key aspects by providing a snapshot of the program’s efforts in addressing the complex needs of the participants. The attendance data for treatment sessions provides a quarterly breakdown, the overall attendance rate, as well as highlights excused and unexcused absences, which demonstrates the engagement levels of participants by providing a comprehensive view of participation. The treatment adjustment data outlines the quarterly and total number of adjustments made during the year, which enables an assessment of trends and adjustments; this includes modifications to treatment plans or approaches aimed at optimizing the effectiveness of interventions. The Incentives data details the quarterly and total number and types of incentives provided to participants, which plays a role in reinforcing positive behaviors and allows for an analysis of incentive distribution and its potential impact on client engagement. The violations data provides quarterly and annual information on the number and types of violations recorded, which offers insight into challenges faced by participants and allows for the identification of patters and trends in program violations.

The Mental Health Court Docket staff. From left: Community Supervision Worker Scottie Lee S. Aguon, Treatment Coordinator Yvette R. Sablan, Caseworker I Marie Leightley, Caseworker I Kycel P. Butters, MHCD Manager Youn Jung “Danielle” Su, and Community Supervision Worker Jonah B. Delos Reyes.

The sanctions data outlines the imposed sanctions in response to rule violations and are quantified by the number of instances, with the exception of Community Work Service, which is measured in hours. The new arrest data provides information on the quarterly and annual number of and type of arrests which depicts the frequency and nature of new arrests within the participant.

The data provided collectively offers a comprehensive view of the MHCD’s activities in 2023, facilitating an analysis of participant engagement, challenges faced, and the effectiveness of interventions and responses implemented by MHCD.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

The MHCD staff participated in the following professional development activities:

February 23 - SafeTALK

March 17 - Crisis Intervention & De-escalation Training

March 27-31 - NDCI Practitioner Training

April 11-13 - VA/SAMSHSA Governor’s Challenge to Prevent Suicide Among Service Members, Veterans, and their Family – Policy Academy Meeting

April 17-21 - NDCI Law Enforcement Training

April 20-21 - ASAM Training

May 24-26 - Mental Health Court Virtual Conference

June 22 - CJPA – OJP TFSC Training

June 26-30 - NADCP RISE 23 Conference

July 19-20 - Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)

July 19 - Trauma Tool Kit

August 8 - Pacific AIDS Education & Training Center (AETC Program): Methamphetamine and HIV

August 21 - Alco-Sensor FST Intoximeter Training: Breathalyzer

September 27-28 - Guam’s Annual Conference on Substance Use Disorders among Pacific Islanders

September 28-29 - CNMI Blue Ribbon Initiative Consortium: A Provider’s Introduction to Substance Abuse for LGBTQ & Peer Recovery Support Training

October 2023 - Crisis Response and Intervention Training

October 2023 - Recognizing and Treating Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia

November 13-15 - Matrix Training

November 2023 - Adolescent Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health Treatment

November 20-21 - Judiciary Professional Development

The MHCD staff participated in the following community engagement activities:

March 3 - MHCD Workshop

March 16-17 - CNMI Blue Ribbon Consortium and Crisis Intervention & De-escalation Training

March 14 & 28 - Mental Health Awareness Month Planning Committee Meeting

May 4 - Treatment Court Month Proclamation Signing Ceremony

May 6 - Self-care at the Park event for Mental Health Awareness Month

May 20 - Bump, Set, & De-stress Volleyball event for Mental Health Awareness Month

Public Safety Awareness Month

Recovery Month Committee Meetings

July 12 - CNMI Sexual Assault Response Team (SART)

Quarterly Meeting

September 1 - CNMI Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Briefing

September 9 - MHCD Workshop

OFFICE OF ADULT PROBATION SUPERVISION

The Office of Adult Probation & Supervision’s (“OAPS”) collective and driving mission is Enforcement, Accountability, Responsibility, and Restoration of Justice. OAPS was established under Public Law 11-46 and reformed under Public Law 15-46. The OAPS is committed to curb recidivism using evidence-based and best practices to become most efficient in reaching its legal obligations. OAPS works to effectuate positive change in probation clients, restore a well-balanced response to victims of crime, and increase justice accountability.

The Chief Probation Officer, under the direction of the Presiding Judge, is charged with overall administration and operation of the division. Probation Officers supervise adult criminal and traffic offenders by ensuring court ordered conditions are followed. OAPS’ legal obligations are to ensure community safety, court reports, rehabilitation and victim restitution and services. OAPS has five units:

SAAM Proclamation. (April 3, 2023)

PJC Conference at the Pacific Islands Club, Saipan. (November 27, 2023 - December 2, 2023)

DVAM Purple Wave, Walk and Roll. (October 19, 2023)

From left: Probation Officer I Benjie G. Piteg, Probation Officer I Timothy C. Deleon Guerrero, Probation Officer II Nadia B. Moses, Probation Officer I Priscillia C. Camacho, Probation Officer II Weena T. Iguel, Chief Probation Officer Matilde H. Bermudes-Rasa, Probation Officer I Berliann Higgins, Assistant Probation Officer Susan G. Cabrera, Assistant Probation Officer Wilson C. Calantog and Probation Officer I Timothy L. Cruz.

JUDICIARY ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE

DIRECTOR OF COURTS

Director of Courts Sonia A. Camacho assumed her position in December 2017. As Director, she supervises personnel with the Commonwealth Judiciary Administrative Office (“JAO”). She oversees the Judiciary’s policy development and planning, court performance monitoring, and assists with the implementation of the Judiciary’s strategic plan, Judicial Council initiatives, and justice programs. Director Camacho has been with the Judiciary for over 25 years and has served on various management teams, supervised chamber assignments, facilitated court programs, overseen transitional and budgetary initiatives, and assisted with the development of case management strategies.

The JAO exists to enable the courts of the CNMI to accomplish their mission through:

Ensuring that the courts have adequate, equitably distributed resources

Ensuring that the courts have and use current technology

Providing a fair and equitable human resources system

Developing and implementing improved court processes and supporting courts in their use

Collecting and providing information on and for the courts

Managing and accounting for the collection of revenue

Ensuring sound financial, budgeting, and procurement practices in the management of court resources

Maintaining liaison with the legislative and executive branches of state government

Director of Courts Sonia A. Camacho conducting the Leadership and Managers Meeting in the Supreme Court Courtroom. (May 9, 2023)

Director of Courts Sonia A. Camacho

Lead by the Director of Courts Sonia A. Camacho (far right), Da’ok Academy tours the Guma’ Hustisia. The students were able to meet with the 3 Justices during the Kombetsasion where they asked questions about the Court and the Justices’ roles. (December 20, 2023)

Leadership and Managers Meeting. (May 9, 2023)

Director of Courts Sonia A. Camacho welcomes the Palau Delegates to the Guma’ Hustisia. (April 4, 2023)

The eCourt Committee meeting in the SSZ Conference Room. (March 2, 2023)

JAO staff during the 1st day of the Professional Development Conference. From left: Program Specialist Kimberly R. Sosa, LEP Coordinator Lana Jean Togawa, Director of Courts Sonia A. Camacho, Client Services Navigator Jolyn Deleon Guerrero and ARPA Scanning Clerk Tracy D. Limes. (November 20, 2023)

PJC Technology Conference Committee. (November 7, 2023)

FEMA Meeting. (November 16, 2023)

Bench and Bar Committee Meeting. (October 19, 2023)

Palau Delegates Site Visit. (April 3, 2023)

Judiciary leaders and managers in attendance of the FY2024 House Budget Session at the Honorable Jesus P. Mafnas Memorial Building, Capitol Hill. (June 9, 2023)

BUDGET AND FINANCE OFFICE

Budget Proposal

On March 15, 2023, the Judiciary submitted its FY2024 budget proposal, requesting for a total of $9,966,360. This is the aggregate total of $8,370,062 in personnel, $1,166,298 in all others (general), $430,000 for all others-utilities. Also requested in the proposal were 158 full-time employees (FTEs).

On May 1, 2023, Governor Arnold I. Palacios submitted his proposed budget to the legislature. The total budget was for $6,492,148, inclusive of $5,875,558 for personnel, $316,590 in operational costs, and $300,000 for utilities. This budget granted 127 number of personnel (NOPs). The Governor’s proposal came with no increase to the Judiciary’s budget in FY2024. However, there was a decrease of $253,871 (about 59%) to all-other, and an increase of $140,000 to utilities and $113,871 to personnel.

Governor Palacios signed PL 23-09 into law on September 29, 2023, which includes the Judiciary’s budget of $6,003,623 for FY2024. PL 23-09 reflects a decrease of $370,866 to personnel and $117,659 to operations, totaling $488,525 less than FY2023.

American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Involvement

The BAFO has continued to assist with the monitoring and certification of funds for ARPA through weekly presentations of fund status, tracking personnel charges, entering invoices, and releasing checks.

Office Activity

The BAFO is composed of 5 full-time employees (FTEs): the Budget and Finance Director, an Accountant I and II, Administrative Assistant, and Administrative Officer (an FTE funded by ARPA).

In the 3rd quarter, after interviews were conducted in May 2023, an Accountant I was hired. The ARPA-funded FTE was vacated in July 2023, then later filled again in December.

The BAFO’s other activities included:

Processing 3,893 invoices in the sum of $3,226,344.92

Processing 221 checks for bail exoneration amounting to $119,784.19

Disbursement of 1,591 checks totaling $592,921.46 in child support payments

Payment of 64 Court-appointed counsel billings of $75,892.71

Collection of $465,228.28 from court services and $367,939.25 from traffic citations, for a total revenue of $833,167.53

Budget and Finance Director John T. Villagomez reports on the status of ARPA funds during a leadership meeting. (August 1, 2023)

Supreme Court Justices and Judiciary leadership meet with newly appointed Secretary of Finance, Tracy B. Norita (center), and staff. (February 2, 2023)

Graph 3. Comparative Graph of Revenue Collections in FY2022 and FY2023.

Revenue collections in FY2022 totaled $925,867, whereas FY2023 collections totaled $833,167.53.

Graph 5. FY2023 Fiduciary Collections.

Graph 4. FY2023 Budget Trend.

COMMONWEALTH RECORDER’S OFFICE

The primary duties of the Commonwealth Recorder are to:

Promptly record documents presented for recordation

Maintain indexing, updating, and retaining electronic copies of the official land registration certificates and other real estate, Uniform Commercial Code, and personal property documents of the Commonwealth

Maintain, index, update, and retain electronic copies of marriage records

Convert existing recorded paper documents into electronic format

Provide access to the search and retrieval of documents electronically

Staff & Office Update

The Commonwealth Recorder’s Office (“CRO”) maintained full staffing throughout the year. Administrative Specialist I Holly C. Camacho was sworn in as a Judiciary employee and as the Acting Commonwealth Recorder on April 18, 2023. She capably served in this capacity until July 2023, when Commonwealth Recorder Kelsey G. Aldan resumed her duties. ARPA Scanning Clerk Tracy D. Limes provided valuable assistance through customer intake and document indexing, ensuring efficient operations during the second quarter.

Projects

Electronic Recording Services Platform

The Electronic Recording Services Platform saw significant upgrades throughout the year, improving functionality and user experience. Dedicated lien and map indexes tackled document organization, while smoother uploading and flexible reporting (including excel export) enhanced efficiency. Escrow integration and account creation streamlined the financial processes. Landshark, the user portal, received its own improvements. Enhanced registration with territory affiliation allows for targeted support, while transaction reporting empowers users to track their E-File activity. Data security saw a boost with the Image Mover’s automatic transfer of documents to a secure server. Additionally, a comprehensive ERecording tutorial video provides easy-to-follow guidance, readily accessible across multiple platforms. These platform upgrades demonstrate to a commitment to user-friendly, efficient, and secure electronic recording services.

Scanning, Auditing, and Indexing Project

To safeguard its historical land records and solidify the new E-Recording System, the CRO has launched the Scanning, Auditing, and Indexing Project. This initiative, currently in the procurement phase, ensures these vital documents are secure, accessible, and easily retrieveable.

Vitals Application

The CRO has taken a significant step towards modernizing its record-keeping with the acquisition of the Vital Application from TriMin Systems (“TriMin”). This records management solution offers a suite of advanced features specifically tailored for marriage records. To ensure smooth implementation, the CRO held a kickoff meeting with TriMin on October 20, 2023. The meeting covered key aspects like system installation, data migration of existing marriage records, integration of imaging systems, end-user training, and project timeline. With TriMin’s estimated go-live date set for the first quarter of 2024, the CRO is poised to experience a significant leap forward in marriage record management and accessibility.

Director of Courts Sonia A. Camacho, Commonwealth Recorder Aldan, and Chief Justice Alexandro C. Castro witness Administrative Holly C. Camacho (3rd from left) signs her oath of office during her swearing in ceremony. (April 18, 2023)

Commonwealth Recorder Kelsey G. Aldan

Administrative Specialist Holly C. Camacho

Commonwealth Recorder Aldan and General Counsel Hyun Jae Lee joined the E-Recording presentation with Tunkey Solutions Managing Partner Billy Grow and Business Consultant Joe Guerrero held at a

Commonwealth Recorder Aldan (at podium) provides updates for the CRO at the Judicial Council Meeting. (August 16, 2023)

FACILITIES MANAGEMENT OFFICE

In 2023, the Facilities Management Office furthered their commitment to the upkeep of the Judiciary's building grounds, facilities, and equipment. Despite the simultaneous management of multiple ongoing projects, the Facilities Management Office ensures that daily and monthly maintenance tasks are performed and that support is extended to contractors, facilitating the seamless progress of concurrent projects without any disruptions. The Facilities Management Office played a crucial role for the Judiciary in supporting contractors and ensuring the continuity of day-to-day operations.

Routine Daily Maintenance:

Each day, the team undertakes a series of critical maintenance tasks. This includes monitoring the HVAC system utilizing the Building Management System (BMS). Regular checks on the water supply are conducted, and any reported issues are promptly addressed. The prioritization and promptness of maintenance requests is guided by considerations of health, safety, and environmental impact.

Monthly Maintenance Activities:

Monthly maintenance encompasses a comprehensive set of activities aimed at ensuring the longevity and optimal functioning of Judiciary facilities. These activities include the care of lawns and grounds, fire extinguisher inspections, monitoring hydraulic fluid level in the elevator reservoir, checking fuel level of the backup generator, and verifying the proper functioning of the Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS).

CHALLENGES & ACCOMPLISHMENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR

Accomplishments

Amidst challenges, the Maintenance Department achieved significant milestones, including landscaping projects, HVAC maintenance, contractor guidance, and the beautification of the Guma' Hustisia. Reduction in water usage reflected the office's commitment to sustainability.

Efforts are underway to explore solutions to the staffing concerns and streamline the procurement process, ensuring that the Judiciary's facilities receive the care and attention they require for seamless and efficient operation.

Challenges

The current staff strength of the maintenance department poses a challenge. With only one Building Superintendent and one Building Grounds Maintenance worker, the team faces difficulties managing a facility of this magnitude. The task of maintaining Judiciary facilities across three islands, with just two staff members stationed on Saipan, adds a layer of complexity to their operations. Even so, Facilities Management Office continues to operate with diligence.

Emergency repairs were impeded by the prolonged procurement process for some items. Despite these delays and unforeseen issues, the team was unhindered from efficiently returning facilities to full operation.

Building Superintendent Gerald E Weaver, repairs a water pump. (October 26, 2023)

Building and Grounds Maintenance Worker Manuel S. Villagomez inspects a sewer line. (April 2023)

A Commonwealth Utilities Corporation worker inspects water meter and water tank storage at Guma' Hustisia. (June 2023)

Quarter 1: January - March

QUARTERLY OVERVIEW

The first quarter saw a myriad of projects, mostly focusing on upkeep and beautification of Guma’ Hustisia. These actions signify a commitment to facility upkeep and enhancement.

January

Performed pressure washing on the front of Guma, including the stairs and sidewalk.

Carried out a landscaping project to enhance the secured parking lot and the area around Guma' Hustisia. This includes border lining with aggregate to prevent mud splash on building walls.

Replaced the fluorescent bulbs in the Office of Adult Probation

Repainted the curbs in the secured parking lot.

Filled holes by the main road through landscaping.

Conducted 1st quarter maintenance on the HVAC system.

Ensured the proper maintenance of power tools.

Replaced the ballast and fluorescent bulbs in Marshals’ armory room.

February

Continued the landscaping project for the secured parking lot.

Removed trees by the MHS side north wing of Guma' Hustisia to prepare for repainting the rooftop at Sally Port.

Initiated the Guma’ Hustisia Roof Project, involving the removal of tiles and repainting the rooftop of Guma' Hustisia.

Replaced ballast and fluorescent bulbs throughout Guma' Hustisia.

Assembled 13 new counsel tables for all 5 courtrooms.

Prepared the Guma’ Hustisia for Mock Trial.

Installed a new counter for the accounting office.

Applied final touch-ups to the restroom project.

March

Mark Pangilinan, a student at Northern Marianas College, planted flowers in the triangle area.

Traced and repaired a 4-inch ruptured sewer-line pipe on the ceiling of the Information System's Office storage.

Removed trees and stumps in the secured parking lot.

Worked on the roof project, including tile removal and repainting the rooftop.

Continued with the landscaping project for the secured parking lot, focusing on border lining and aggregate.

A worker from Chong’s conducting quarterly maintenance on Guma Hustisia’s 150-ton chiller. (January 2023)

Removing trees to prepare for repainting Sally Port. (February 2023)

Quarter 2: April - June

Continuing into the second quarter, new projects were added to the existing ones. Additionally, extensive preparations were made to anticipate a typhoon. Proactive measures were taken to ensure the safety of assets and maintain smooth operations, mitigating any potential risks.

April

Completed landscaping project for the secured parking lot, including border lining and aggregate.

Started and completed landscaping project at the back side of Guma' Hustisia.

Transplanted flowers in preparation for Arbor Day.

Set up for a meeting of the Criminal Justice Planning Agency. Repaired a 4-inch sewer-line pipe on top of the Information System's Office storage.

May

Set up the Attorney General's Cup. Made preparations for Typhoon Mawar. Repaired the roof of the Security Screening Zone.

Conducted Commonwealth Utilities Corporation inspection on water meter and water tank storage at Guma' Hustisia.

Removed trees at Sally Port, the side closer to Marianas High School. Repainted the employee lounge on the 2nd floor of Guma' Hustisia. Installed a new fence line behind Guma' Hustisia.

June

Conducted drainage maintenance. Removed and inspected roof tiles.

Took daily measurements of water tank level.

Installed an extension outlet for the law clerk's desk in Courtroom 217. Repaired the sink at the Office of Adult Probation. Disposed of filing cabinets.

Performed HVAC and BMS preventative maintenance.

Set up training for the Criminal Justice Planning Agency.

Conducted Commonwealth Utilities Corporation inspection on water meter and water tank storage at Guma' Hustisia.

Landscaping project at the south side of Guma’ Hustisia. (September 2023)

A worker from Chong’s conducting HVAC and BMS preventative maintenance. (June 2023)

Quarter 3: July - September

Maintenance efforts in the third quarter included preventative care of facilities, event set up, and beautification.

July

Repainted Law Clerks’ offices in the Supreme Court Chambers at Guma' Hustisia.

Set up for a jury trial.

Removed of scaffolding on top of Sally Port.

Repainted walls in the Deliberation room.

HVAC plumbing maintenance (rust removal and pipe polishing).

August

Repaired Dedicated Outside Air Unit (pulley repair and pillow block replacement).

Landscaped around Guma' Hustisia curbs and walls.

Performed general maintenance on power tools.

Trimmed trees outside Guma' Hustisia.

Removal of a tree on the second-floor wall in the secured parking lot.

Repaired the trailer and hitch on the Facilities Management Office service vehicle.

Repaired the first-floor employee women's restroom.

Oceania Elevators inspection and measurement of lobby and service elevators.

Received delivery of elevator parts.

Replaced ballast and fluorescent bulbs in the Marshals’ office.

Repainted walls of secured parking lot.

September

Removed mold from all exterior doors entering Guma’ Hustisia in the secured parking area.

Repaired the reserve parking sign in front of Guma’ Hustisia.

Fixed the leak on the filter dryer of a 5-ton A/C unit that supplies the Security Screening Zone.

Replaced the handicap parking signs in the employee parking lot.

Landscaped in front of the Deliberation Room, including border lining and aggregate work.

Building Superintendent Weaver replaces ballasts and fluorescent bulbs. (November 2023)

Chong’s employee fixes a leak on Guma Hustisia’s 5-ton airconditioning unit. (September 2023)

Quarter 4: October - December

The year concluded with ongoing challenges, including a second typhoon. With previous experience in dealing with typhoons in recent years, the maintenance department once again took extensive measures to prepare. These preparations aimed to ensure the safety of assets and the continuity of operations.

October

Contractor replaced the old roof hatches with new ones. Prepared for Typhoon Bolaven. Repaired the water pump.

Fixed the Guma’ Hustisia signage by Beach Road. Set up for Cultural Day and the Fiyóng · Kombetsasion. Removed debris from Typhoon Bolaven.

November

Landscaped the triangle area in front of the Guma’ Hustisia. Repaired the Security Screening Zone wall. Repaired the water pump for the Wood Crew. Prepared and set up for Professional Development. Prepared for Pacific Judicial Conference.

Replaced ballasts and fluorescent bulbs in Courtrooms 202 and 205 and Supreme Court Clerk's office.

Pressure washed doors, exterior walls, and ceiling to remove mold.

December

Pressure washed sidewalk in the employee parking lot. Trimmed flowers in the employee parking lot and on the north side of Guma’ Hustisia.

Relocated the washer and dryer to the chiller room.

HVAC plumbing maintenance, including rust removal and polishing. Set up for Moot Court.

Building and Grounds Maintenance worker Villagomez conducts roof repairs. (May 2023)

Building Superintendent Weaver patching up a wall at the Security Screening Zone. (November 2023)

GRANTS MANAGEMENT OFFICE

The Grants Management Office was responsible for overseeing the transformative journey of the Judiciary during the fiscal year 2023, as documented in the quarterly activity reports. Throughout the year, the Grants Management Office navigated challenges and achieved milestones. Highlights include modernizing elevators, repairing roofs, completing the fence project, driving courthouse transformations in Tinian and Rota, processing reimbursements, addressing CJPA administrative challenges, implementing mental health initiatives, and revitalizing the Judiciary Historical Society.

Elevators

The modernization of the Judiciary's elevator began when Oceania Elevator Company, LLC. submitted modernization proposals for the "FEMA elevators." However, there were uncertainties regarding the Procurement Office's pending opinion on sole sourcing, which was a crucial aspect for the most expensive Typhoon Yutu project. In the second quarter, the Judiciary finalized contracts, ensuring our advance payment to Oceania and initiating the modernization process for the three elevators. Despite facing logistical challenges, The third quarter was a period of progress. Delays in funding and arrival of parts from California affected the installation of Judiciary elevators, but advancements were made in the lobby and service elevators. Oceania's offer to enhance elevator interiors at no additional cost injected a sense of optimism into the daunting project. However, operational challenges became more intense in the fourth quarter. The ARPA-funded service elevator neared completion, but inspections and contract extensions posed hurdles and prevented its finalization in 2023.

Roof Repairs

The roof repair project represented resilience despite challenges and inefficiency. The first quarter saw substantial progress in Guma’ Hustisia roof repairs, while second quarter faced delays in contractor payments. The persistent efforts culminated in the fourth quarter with the installation of hatch covers, five years after Typhoon Yutu. Negotiations with a vendor demonstrated resourcefulness and effectively reduced shipping costs.

James W. Stowell Grants Administrator

Which is better overall – the Supreme Court or the Superior Court? No comment. GETTING

What is the single most important thing to help you navigate a challenge at work? Receiving direction from supervisors.

If you had to describe the Judiciary as an animal, which animal would it be and why? A lion because it is smart, decisive, strong, and respected.

What advice would you give yourself if you were starting your career again? To continue your education and never stop learning.

What is one thing that you want to spend more time doing in the next six months? Visiting my two grandchildren.

What did you get into the most trouble for with your parents as a kid? Hot rodding/crazy driving around town.

Would you rather meet your favorite musician or your favorite actor? Musician - Eric Clapton or Bob Dylan.

What’s your favorite way to unwind after a busy work week? Happy Hour.

Workers removing roof tiles on top of Guma’ Hustisia. (February 23, 2023)

Oceania Elevators modernizing Guma’ Hustisia’s elevator. (December 15, 2023)

Fence Project

The fence project, in contrast to the roof repairs, progressed with great efficiency. The notice to proceed issued in the first quarter resulted in the unexpected completion of the fence in second quarter. The contractor’s skillful management of the project highlighted their ability to deliver work that is both effective and satisfactory Tinian & Rota: Community-Driven Transformations

The first and second quarters were dedicated to transformative initiatives in Tinian, which involved combining FEMA's Project Sheet 46 with a survey for an Improved Project. The Mayor's Office in Tinian played a proactive role, demonstrating strong community involvement. In the third quarter, the Judiciary signed a contract for FEMA projects at Kotten Tinian. Fourth quarter saw the successful commencement of FEMA projects on Tinian. At the same time, ongoing efforts on Rota focused on comprehensive damage listings.

Reimbursements

The financial situation evolved over the course of the year, with a strong emphasis on careful monitoring and thoughtful planning. During the first quarter, the team prioritized maintaining a timely submission of reimbursement requests. We observed an uptick in the amount received during second quarter, which raised expectations for future payments. In the third quarter, the team highlighted the progress of ongoing requests nearing completion and tracked updates on Excel. As reimbursements continued to come in throughout the fourth quarter, the Grants Management Office was left with a positive outlook for the successful completion of the projects in Tinian and Saipan.

CJPA and Grants

The Criminal Justice Planning Agency (CJPA) successfully addressed administrative challenges throughout the year. In the first quarter, there were struggles with SAM re-registration, but these issues were resolved by the second quarter. The agency remained focused on funds status reports, although there were delays in filings due to travel issues in September. The availability of funds status reports was eagerly anticipated throughout the fourth quarter.

Mental Health Initiatives: Collaborative Excellence

The first three quarters of the year featured collaborative efforts to secure Mental Health grants. These efforts culminated in success with the Mental Health Collaboration Grant. The Mental Health Court Veterans Grant involved navigating administrative processes, with Financial Services facilitating financial reporting.

Judiciary Historical Society

The Northern Marianas Judiciary Historical Society recently experienced a revival, holding its first annual meeting in three years. The renewal of SAM registration has opened the door to potential federal grants, indicating a renewed focus on preserving the legal history of the region.

As the fiscal year came to an end, the Grants Management Office looked back on a year of overcoming challenges, reaching milestones, and showing unwavering dedication to enhancing the infrastructure and community services of the Northern Mariana Islands Judiciary.

Transporting new tiles for Guma’ Hustisia roof. (February 23, 2023)

Oceania Elevators evaluating one of the elevators at Guma’ Hustisia. (August 30, 2023)

HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICE

The Human Resources Office (“HR”) has primary responsibility for managing and assisting with all employee-related matters, including recruitment, policy issuance, providing information about employment & labor laws and benefits, conducting new employee orientation, coordinating professional development, maintaining personnel records, assisting employees with obtaining records and other information as requested, and employee consultations. HR also coordinates some staff training and professional development workshops throughout the year.

HR works closely with each division to support and respond to their needs. In addition to performing its normal daily functions, HR was involved in the following activities:

Worked closely with Human Resources Consultant Frank Gibson on Staffing Desk Audit; Amendment of the Judicial Council Resolution 2023-001 and Judiciary Vehicle Policy; Monthly employee birthday celebration; Cooperative Education & Training Program; Summer Law Extern Program; Coordination of donation assistance for Rota Judiciary Staff due to impact of Typhoon Mawar; Audit of scanned personnel files; and 2023 Judiciary Professional Development Conference.

Human Resources Officer Michelle V. Guerrero

Administrative/HR Specialist Rebecca R. Santos

From left: Procurement Officer Christin D. Aninzo, Frank Gibson, and HR Officer Michelle V. Guerrero. (November 17, 2023)

Graph 6. HR Consultations/Visits

May Birthday celebrants gather at the Assembly Hall. (May 31, 2023)

When a vacancy occurs, the applicable department reviews the position description and makes changes as needed. HR prepares a request for announcement for the Chief Justice or Presiding Judge’s approval. HR then posts a minimum 5-day internal announcement, and if no internal hire is made, published a public announcement.

Individuals interested in employment with the CNMI Judiciary may obtain the employment application form from the following: the CNMI Judiciary website at www.NMIJudiciary.gov, at the Judiciary Administrative Office at the Guma Hustisia/Iimwal Aweewe/House of Justice in Susupe, or at the Superior Court offices on Kotten Tinian and Centron Hustisia in Rota.

Applications for employment require a completed application, certified copy of any supporting document(s) to validate any credentials the applicant may be claiming in order to meet the minimum qualifications (i.e. High School Diploma, College Diploma, Police and Court Clearances), and three references. There are ongoing efforts to streamline the recruitment and application process, but to date, the Judiciary follows the Office of Personnel Management’s hiring processes.

The HR Office completed and processed the following personnel actions:

PERSONNEL RECORD RETENTION

The HR Office, with the help of ARPA Scanning Clerks, has continued to digitize employment records. HR office maintains both employee record information and the Judiciary’s policies. Each personnel document is classified, indexed, and archived in LaserFiche. The following are the number of files scanned:

TABLE 44.

2023 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE AND EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION

TABLE 45. JUDICIARY AWARDS

DIVISION AWARD AWARDEE

CHIEF JUSTICE AWARD Deputy General Counsel Matthew J. Brown

ASSOCIATE JUSTICES AWARD Judicial Assistant Josephine N. Estrada

SUPREME COURT AWARD Law Clerk Patrick C. Quimby

PRESIDING JUDGE AWARD Deputy Clerk II Okalani R. Shiprit

ASSOCIATE JUDGES AWARD Buildings and Grounds Maintenance Manuel S. Villagomez, Jr.

SUPERIOR COURT AWARD Deputy Clerk I Gregorio U. Tudela

ADMINISTRATIVE AWARD

Scanning Clerk (JAO) Tracy D. Limes

OFFICE OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL AWARD Paralegal Mary Bernadette C. Glass

OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF THE SUPREME COURT AWARD Deputy Clerk of the Supreme Court Nora V. Borja

OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF THE SUPERIOR COURT AWARD Deputy Clerk I Gregorio U. Tudela and Data Systems Analyst Mark G. Hidalgo

FAMILY COURT DIVISION AWARD Deputy Clerk I Gregorio U. Tudela

OFFICE OF ADULT PROBATION SUPERVISION OFFICE AWARD

DRUG COURT DIVISION AWARD

Officer II Nadia B. Moses

Officer Dustin B. Pangelinan

MENTAL HEALTH COURT AWARD Community Supervision Scottie Lee S. Aguon

MARSHAL SERVICES DIVISION AWARD

COMMONWEALTH RECORDER'S OFFICE AWARD

HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICE AWARD

BUDGET AND FINANCE OFFICE AWARD

GRANTS MANAGEMENT OFFICE AWARD

OFFICE OF PROCUREMENT AWARD

FACILITIES MANAGEMENT OFFICE AWARD

INFORMATION SYSTEMS OFFICE AWARD

Deputy Marshal I Jason T. Camacho

Administrative Specialist Holly C. Camacho

General Counsel Hyun Jae Lee

Accountant I Shanna Mae W. Flores

Budget and Finance Director John T. Villagomez

ARPA Administrator Martha M. Standish

Buildings and Grounds Maintenance Manuel S. Villagomez, Jr.

ARPA Information Systems Assistant Kristine D. Laurio

LAW REVISION COMMISSION AWARD Staff Attorney Y. Moin Ghadimi

ARPA PROGRAM AWARD

ARPA Scanning Clerk (Rota) Micca B. King

Deputy General Counsel Matthew J. Brown receives the Chief Justice Award. (November 21, 2023)

STAFF TRAINING/PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS

Professional development and staff training workshops, initiated by the Supreme Court and HR Office to provide educational opportunities for personnel, continued throughout the year, covering topics dealing with information and technology, court rules and procedures, customer service, and health and wellness.

TABLE 46. STAFF TRAINING/PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS

TRAINING DATE

LAW ENFORCEMENT FIREARMS TRAINING 02/03/2023

BOMBING PREVENTION TRAINING 03/09-10/2023

CRISIS INTERVENTION & DE-ESCALATION 03/16/2023

TRAUMA-INFORMED SEXUAL ASSAULT INVESTIGATIONS 03/17/2023

USE OF FORCE POLICY REFRESHER 03/30/2023

FEDERAL GRANTS POLICY AND SPENDING PLAN 04/14/2023

PATROL ESSENTIALS FOR TREATMENT COURT 04/14/2023

PACIFIC JUDICIAL COUNCIL: CASEFLOW MANAGEMENT TRAINING 04/18-19/2023

EEOC AND NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY TRAINING 05/12/2023

LANGUAGE ACCESS PLAN AND POLICY TRAINING FOR NEW HIRE 06/09/2023

LAW ENFORCEMENT FIREARMS TRAINING 06/12/2023

NMI COALITION AGAINST DOMESTIC & SEXUAL VIOLENCE ADVOCACY TRAINING 08/02/2023

OFFICER SURVIVAL TRAINING (L.O.C.K.U.P.) 09/25-29/2023

CHCC MOBILE CLINIC OUTREACH 10/06/2023

LANGUAGE ACCESS PLAN AND POLICY TRAINING FOR NEW HIRE 10/20/2023

INDIVIDUAL FIRST AID KIT TRAINING 11/20/2023

PROFESSIONAL WRITING REFRESHER 11/20/2023

MICROSOFT APPS 11/20/2023

PUBLIC SPEAKING 11/20/2023

CHART AND GRAPHS 11/20/2023

STRESS MANAGEMENT/MEDIATION 11/20/2023

Staff attended the 2024 Government Health Insurance (AETNA) Open Enrollment Presentation held at the SSZ Conference room. (December 7, 2023)

From left: Information Systems Assistant

Vincent P. Camacho, Systems Administrator

Michael C. Villacrusis, Computer Specialist

Jorale A. Mendoza, Information Systems

Assistant Kristine D. Laurio, and Information Systems Support Specialist Rogelio “Vhoie” N. Francia. (November 21, 2023)

INFORMATION SYSTEMS OFFICE

In 2023, the Information Systems Office (“ISO”) advanced numerous projects while concurrently delivering support services to Guma’ Hustisia and additional satellite locations. Much of the current ARPA projects are in the procurement stage.

ARPA PROJECTS

BROADBAND BACKBONE PROJECT

The Broadband Backbone Project experienced significant progress in the latter half of 2023. The first half of 2023 saw delays due to procurement procedures. On September 18, a Notice to Proceed was finally issued. By December, most of the equipment deliveries were completed, paving the way for installation to begin in the first half of 2024. This marks a substantial advancement for the project, which can now look forward to fulfilling its goals of enhanced connectivity and infrastructure in the coming year.

DATA CENTER

Throughout the year, the Data Center Project has consistently remained in the project design phase, aiming to establish an optimal infrastructure for the Judiciary's servers and network systems while expanding the ISO space. In the first quarter, the project achieved a significant milestone with the approval of the 60% design on January 30. Progress continued with approval of the 90% design on April 7. Although the 100% design was initially due on June 17, it remained pending submission. Finally, the 100% design was submitted on October 19. The project is now pending Invitation to Bid publication.

COURT TECHNOLOGY

The court technology project aims to create advanced hybrid courtrooms that can accommodate both conventional and virtual hearings. This project is currently on hold pending funds certification.

ECOURT

While the eCourt project remained mostly in the discovery phase throughout the year, focusing on interface and artifact identification, a significant breakthrough occurred in the fourth quarter with the delivery of the first data conversion iteration. This testing milestone marks a pivotal step towards transitioning the Judiciary's case management system to a web-based platform.

Procurement Officer Christine D. Aninzo and Systems Administrator Michael C. Villacrusis receive delivery of broadband backbone equipment from AP Group. (December 20, 2023)

JUDICIARY WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT

This year, the Judiciary's website showcased a dynamic evolution. This project was originally completed in 2022; however, in the first quarter of 2023, the website committee proposed a comprehensive redesign. The project was culminated with the launch of a newly redesigned website on June 15, 2023.

The committee continued with regular meetings, leading to another website redesign proposal in September. The fourth quarter marked the initiation of a third website iteration. The third website design is scheduled for launch in the first half of 2024. This iterative approach emphasizes the Judiciary's commitment to maintaining a modern and responsive online presence, adapting to evolving needs and technological advancements.

KIOSK QUEUEING SYSTEM

The Kiosk Queueing System project saw steady adoption and data collection throughout 2023. Launched in February, the kiosk served a total of 22,268 clients and processed 28,055 transactions across the year. This shift from manual ticketing to an automated system streamlined wait times for clients while also gathering valuable data for internal reports. While transaction numbers fluctuated slightly throughout the four quarters of the year, the consistent use demonstrates the project's success in improving client experience and providing valuable data insights for the Judiciary.

Screenshot of the NMI Judiciary website. (October 5, 2023)

LAPTOPS & OTHER TECHNOLOGY EQUIPMENT

The Judiciary's initiative to replace aging devices with the procurement of twenty-seven laptops in fiscal year 2023 witnessed progress and challenges throughout the year. In the first quarter, distribution commenced with the Drug Court Division and Clerk of the Superior Court staff, but was subsequently placed on hold as laptops were redirected to other projects. In the second quarter, distribution resumed and concluded with the Office of Adult Probation Supervision on June 16. ISO initiated preparations for a third batch, but procurement is currently on hold due to funding constraints.

CURVED MONITORS

The ISO also worked to replace outdated dual monitors with new curved models. In the first quarter, distribution commenced with the Drug Court Division and Clerk of the Superior Court staff, but was subsequently placed on hold as laptops were redirected to other projects. In the second quarter, distribution resumed and concluded with the Office of Adult Probation Supervision on June 16. A third batch is also currently awaiting funding.

ADDITIONAL WHITEBOARD MONITORS

The ITB for additional whiteboard monitors is currently on hold until the Office of Procurement is able to release the Notice to Proceed. However, an 86-inch whiteboard monitor was purchased separately and was delivered on December 18. The new whiteboard has been installed at the SSZ Conference Room.

PHONE SYSTEM

Telephones underwent an upgrade to a PRI system, enhancing phone support and addressing issues with incoming calls. The installation and activation of equipment upgrades was done on March 18, with additional programming completed in the subsequent week. Phones were distributed to six personnel in the second quarter, expanding to the Office of the Director of Courts and Office of the General Counsel.

SECURITY CAMERA PROJECT

The goal of the security camera project is to install a system in line with federal government standards at Guma’ Hustisia, Kotten Tinian, and Centron Hustisia. This project is currently in its second phase, which consists of installation of cameras in the interior of the building.

TICKETING SYSTEM

The IT support ticketing system, launched in March 2023, saw mixed adoption throughout the year. While initial rollout and usage were promising, with 60% of requests submitted through the platform in the first quarter, a persistent gap remained. Over the year, roughly 45% of support requests continued to come through other channels like phone, messaging, or in-person. While ticket submissions steadily increased (98 in Q1, 172 in Q2, 47 in Q3, and 153 in Q4), this trend didn't significantly bridge the gap with traditional methods. Further efforts will be made to maximize the system's potential for streamlined support and data analysis.

EVENTS

Throughout the year, ISO played a role in providing technical support for a range of activities, contributing to various events within the Judiciary. From the Law and the Freshman Legislator Program in January to Moot Court in December, ISO consistently assisted in equipment setup for events encompassing audio, video, display, recording, and laptops. Notable activities included Cultural Day, Professional Development Conference, and the Pacific Judicial Council Conference. This ongoing collaboration underscores ISO's flexibility and commitment to facilitating the technological needs of the Judiciary, ensuring the seamless execution of diverse events and activities throughout the year: Law and the Freshman Legislator

2023 High School Mock

Trial

2023 Law Week Dry Run

Law Week Proclamation

Signing

Law Day Celebration

Attorney General’s Cup

CJPA Meetings

LAPP Training

Drug Court Trainings

Drug Court Graduation

Jury Trials

Court Tours

Oral Arguments

Moot Court

Cultural Day

Fiyóng · Kombetsasion

Professional Development

Pacific Judicial Council

(October6,2023)

(November17,2023)

MARSHALS SERVICE DIVISION

STATUTORY DUTIES OF THE DIVISION

1 CMC § 3902 requires that the Marshals Service Division (“MSD”) perform the following five distinct tasks for the Judiciary:

Maintain the peace and perform general court security duties at all court facilities in the Commonwealth, including providing security services to judiciary personnel, to participants in court proceedings, and to the general public visiting the judicial facilities.

Provide personal security for justices and judges outside of judiciary grounds, while on official business, and during times of inordinate threat.

Serve warrants of arrest, make arrests when there is probable cause to believe a crime has been committed in the marshal's presence, serve court processes and orders, enforce writs of possession, and seizure, and bring persons before the Commonwealth courts when so ordered.

Assist in the transportation and escort of prisoners within the judicial facility, take prisoners into custody during court proceedings, and perform extraditions

Participate in lawful information-sharing with other Commonwealth and federal autonomous agencies, branches, public corporations, elected boards, and licensing boards regarding employee and applicant background and precertification checks. Such information may include past criminal convictions, civil offenses, and traffic citations.

Jesus S. Santos Deputy Marshall III

What’s one thing you’d like to improve about your work environment? Performance and professionalism.

What’s your favorite thing about working at the Judiciary? Being part of the Law Enforcement community.

What’s a pet peeve your co-workers should know about you? I don’t like people who complain/whine too much.

What is one thing that you want to spend more time doing in the next six months? House projects, outdoor work, and landscaping.

What did you get into the most trouble for with your parents as a kid? Fighting in school, then having to be picked up by my parents at the Department of Public Safety.

If money and time were no object, what would you be doing right now? Riding my motorcycle and enjoying myself.

If you could only eat one item of food for the rest of your life, what would you eat? Hamburger from Java Joes.

Which is better overall – the Supreme Court or the Superior Court? No comment.

Judiciary law enforcement had their annual firearms qualification at the Department of Public Safety range. (February 3, 2023)

ONGOING OBJECTIVES

To hire Ten (10) more marshals. Physical Training to include use of force/controlled force techniques into regular training.

To establish a quick reaction Tactical Team. Upgrade certification and training on firearms, armory, investigations, protective service, security, and report writing. Establish the Control Center at the Marshals Office

Joint Task force with multiple law enforcement agencies to include US Marshals, DPS, Customs, Probation, Parole, DOC, FBI, ATF and other local and federal agencies. To be less dependent on other law enforcement agencies

To establish a professional modern Marshals Service Division to meet the standards set in law enforcement. Train by way of a Marshals Academy or schedule on the job training.

MSD staff participated in the Konfitma exercise as safety officers. (November 14, 2023)

CNMI Homeland Security and Emergency Management

Provides law enforcement training to MSD officers. In times of assistance for natural disasters HSEM activates MSD for EOC operations.

Guam/US Marshals

Provided Bench Protection and Defensive Tactics (DT) training to MSD. The Marshals are now better prepared to provide personal security to all Justices/Judge, detainees, and court staff.

Drug Court Division

Assists Drug Court officers with drug testing observation, provide security for after-hours event and transport of remanded participants to DOC. Drug Court Officers have assisted MSD with court security.

Office of Adult Probation

Assists probation officers with drug testing observation, provides security with field services, and provides training their officers. Probation officers have assisted MSD with court security.

Mental Health Court Docket

Assists Mental Health Community Supervision Worker in serving court orders and transportation of remanded participants to DOC.

Legislative Bureau

MSD trained Legislative Bureau Sergeantat-Arms and law enforcement team on security equipment and processes.

Deputy Marshals Jonathan Limes and Matthew Iguel presented Individual First Aid Kit during the Judiciary’s Professional Development Conference. (November 20, 2023)

OFFICE OF PROCUREMENT

Purchase Requisitions & Purchase Orders

Throughout 2023, the Office of Procurement received 485 purchase requisitions from and processed 464 purchase orders for various Judiciary departments to procure goods and services for continuity of operations. (See Tables 54 and 55.)

Publications, Contracts, & Change Orders

In 2023, 9 publications were issued to provide public awareness to interested proposers and bidders. Of the 9 publications, 67% were to expand services for the Drug Court Division and Mental Health Court Docket while the remaining 33% were announcements for janitorial services for the Guma’ Hustisia, repairs to Kotten Tinian for damages sustained during Super Typhoon Yutu, and enhancing public accessibility to records of the Commonwealth Recorder’s Office. (See Table 56.)

A total of 9 contracts were awarded and executed in 2023, however, only 6 derived from the completion of the issued publications. The remaining 3 contracts were for announcements published in the year prior. 8 contracts were completed, 5 of which were executed in 2023 and 3 in 2022. (See Table 57.)

Committee Involvement & Meetings

The Office of Procurement’s commitment to committee involvement is crucial to ensuring the office stays informed of ongoing projects, understanding each division’s procurement needs, and ensuring compliance with the NMI Judiciary Rules of Procurement. In 2023, the Office of Procurement was involved in the following committees:

American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Committee

e-Recording Committee

e-Court Committee

Goal No. 5 Committee

Finance Committee

Personnel

In January 2023, ARPA Administrator Martha M. Standish assumed the additional role of Acting Procurement Officer while former Procurement Officer Juan D. Cruz transitioned out.

On February 6, 2023, Procurement Officer Christine D. Aninzo began her employment with the Judiciary and worked alongside ARPA Administrator/Acting Procurement Officer Martha M. Standish to streamline the transition process.

On December 25, 2023, former Deputy Clerk I Gregorio U. Tudela transitioned into the Budget and Finance Office/Office of Procurement as an ARPA Administrative Officer.

GREGORIO U. TUDELA Administrative Officer

CHRISTINE D. ANINZO Procurement Officer

MARTHA M. STANDISH ARPA Administrator

Transfer of property between the Judiciary and the NMI Legislative Bureau. (April 26, 2023)

been officially sworn into office.

Procurement Officer Christine D. Aninzo leads a PreSubmission meeting for the Request for Proposals for Scanning, Auditing, and Indexing for the Commonwealth Recorder’s Office. (June 28, 2023)

Procurement Officer Christine D. Aninzo taking the Oath of Office, administered by Chief Justice Alexandro C. Castro. (May 18, 2023)

ARPA Administrator, formerly Acting Procurement Officer, Martha M. Standish (left) with Procurement Officer Christine D. Aninzo after having

(May 18, 2023)

LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY (LEP) OFFICE

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in any program or activity that receives federal funds or other federal financial assistance. As a recipient of federal assistance, the Northern Mariana Islands Judiciary is required 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”). In response to this mandate, in November 2015, the Judiciary adopted its Language Access Policy and Plan through Supreme Court Administrative Order 2015-ADM-0023RUL.

The Language Access Policy and Plan was adopted to provide timely, meaningful, and equal access to Judiciary programs, services, and information to LEP and DHH individuals and is consistent with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. When creating the Language Access Policy and Plan, the Judiciary followed the United States Department of Justice Civil Rights Division’ recommended four-factor analysis to determine reasonable steps in implementing a policy for LEP and DHH individuals. The factors include the number or proportion of LEP/DHH persons served or encountered in the eligible service population; the frequency with which LEP/DHH persons come in contact with the program; the nature and importance of the program, activity, or service provided by the program; and the resources available to the recipient.

2023 LAPP COMMITEE MEMBERS

Associate Justice Perry B. Inos, Chairman

Clerk of Court for the Supreme Court Judy T. Aldan, Esq.

Clerk of Court for the Superior Court Patrick V. Diaz

Attorney General Edward Manibusan

Chief Public Defender Douglas Hartig

Attorney Cristopher A. Heeb, Esq.

TABLE58.NUMBEROFHOURSBYSOURCEOFLANGUAGEPERQUARTER

This year the Judiciary was able to conduct a number of important training sessions with court staff and certify additional court interpreters. The LEP Office also assisted the Judiciary in the translation of vital documents under the Family Court Division, so as to allow the LEP individual to correctly capture the meaning of the source content on the form without the assistance of an interpreter/translator. At the end of the year, the LEP Office received a total of 402 hours for interpreter and translator services; the top three (3) most requested source of languages are Chinese, Chuukese, and Tagalog.

2023 LAPP TRAININGS & PROJECTS

June 09 - LAPP Training for Judiciary Staff

August 10 - Court Interpreter Training

October 20 - LAPP Training for Judiciary Staff

Translation of vital documents for Family Court

TABLE59.NUMBEROFHOURSBYCASETYPEPERQUARTER CASETYPE

Chief Justice Alexandro C. Castro (center), Director of Courts Sonia A. Camacho (far left) and General Counsel Hyun Jae Lee (second left) gather with court interpreter certificate holders. (August 10, 2023)

LEP Coordinator, Lana Jean C. Togawa (left), LAPP Coordinator and Director of Courts, Sonia A. Camacho (center), and General Counsel, Hyun Jae Lee (right). (August 10, 2023)

LAPP Office Interpreter Station.

KOTTEN TINIAN

Located in San Jose, Kotten Tinian provides access to judicial services for residents of the island. Since opening in 1999, the Judiciary monitors the building facilities to ensure that it is well-equipped with the necessary resources and modern technology. The Superior Court holds hearings on Tinian twice a month. Presiding Judge Roberto C. Naraja presides over criminal, traffic, and juvenile cases. Judge Kenneth L. Govendo presides over civil, family court, and small claims cases. The Supreme Court also holds appellate arguments in the building periodically.

Kotten Tinian completed many projects, including the replacement of the flag poles, painting of the courthouse’s exterior, and installation of doors.

In addition, the Judiciary hosted many presentations and events at Kotten Tinian, like the Law Week Proclamation, Pretrial, Probation, and Parole Resolution Signing, and National Treatment Court Month. Furthermore, Kotten Tinian disposed of an abundance of files that were scanned and audited throughout the year.

I

If you could only choose one word to describe your working style, what would it be? Multitasking.

If you could switch jobs with anyone in the Judiciary for a week, who would it be? A clerk from the Family Court Division.

What’s your favorite thing about working at the Judiciary? Assisting court patrons and being able to learn something new.

What is one thing that you want to spend more time doing in the next six months? Engaging in more clerking activities and additional training.

What’s your favorite way to unwind after a busy work week? Spending time with my family at the beach.

What’s a skill you’d like to learn or improve? Public speaking.

If money and time were no object, what would you be doing right now? Taking my family abroad on vacation to visit my siblings and other family members.

Which is better overall – the Supreme Court or the Superior Court? No comment.

Christin S. Cabrera Deputy Clerk

Kotten Tinian exterior paint project. (April 17, 2023)

Flag pole restoration at Kotten Tinian. (April 20, 2023)

Deputy Marshal I Bradly P. Lizama Oath of Office swearing in. (October 27, 2023)

Drug Court presentation at Kotten Tinian. (April 19, 2023)

Law Day Proclamation signing at Kotten Tinian. (April 21, 2023)

ROTA CENTRON HUSTISIA

Rota Centron Hustisia was completed in 2005, ensuring residents of the island efficient access to justice. It is located in Sinapalo and houses the Supreme Court, Superior Court, Office of Adult Probation Supervision, Office of the Attorney General, Office of the Public Defender, Department of Public Safety, and Micronesian Legal Services Corporation. Superior Court hearings are held on Rota twice a month and the Supreme Court periodically holds oral arguments.

2023 was filled with numerous accomplishments. Centron Hustisia completed many projects, including the renovation of the secured parking lot gate, a courthouse tour for the Sinapalo Elementary School Kindergarten students, many events/presentations like Law Week Proclamation Signing, Pretrial, Probation, and Parole Resolution Signing, Law Revision Commission presentation, and National Treatment Court Month - CNMI Drug Court, and disposal of numerous files that had been scanned and audited. In addition to their duties and responsibilities, Scanning Clerks Elvira M. Quitugua and Micca B. King heavily work on the scanning project and sit in different committees.

Typhoon Mawar greatly impacted Rota Centron Hustisia. The courthouse closed on May 22, 2023 and reopened on May 31, 2023 for regular business hours at 12:30 p.m. While Rota Centron Hustisia remained closed, personnel were activated for typhoon recovery efforts and other disaster mitigation steps. The courthouse remained resilient through Typhoon Mawar and Typhoon Bolaven.

EMPL YEE SP TLIGHT

GETTING TO KNOW...

Elvira M. Quitugua ARPA Scanning Clerk

What’s the most exciting project you’ve worked on at the Judiciary? Conducting the ARPA Scanning Project presentation at this year’s Professional Development.

If you could switch jobs with anyone in the Judiciary for a week, who would it be? Anyone from the Human Resources Office.

If you could give one piece of advice to someone newly starting the Judiciary, what would it be and why? Be more open-minded and understanding about a person’s situation, especially in small communities where you know many people.

What is the single most important thing to help you navigate a challenge at work? Having common sense.

If you could only eat one item of food for the rest of your life, what would you eat? Sushi.

Would you rather meet your favorite musician or your favorite actor? Actor - Will Smith

Which is better overall – the Supreme Court or the Superior Court? No comment!

Front: Deputy Clerk I Delia C. Barcinas, ARPA Scanning Clerk Micca B. King, ARPA Scanning Clerk Elvira M. Quitugua.

Back: Deputy Marshal I Sherla Mae Sablan and Administrative Specialist Michelle A. Mendiola. (March 8, 2023)

Rota Centron Hustisia after Typhoon Mawar. (May 25, 2023)

PATRON ENTRY LOG STATISTICS

ARPA Scanning Clerks Micca B. King and Elvira M. Quitugua disposes files at the designated disposal area at the Tatachong Dump Site. (February 24, 2023)

AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT (ARPA)

On May 17, 2021, the United States Department of the Treasury released $481,876,521.00 of the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds to the CNMI Executive Branch. On June 4, 2021, the Office of the Governor awarded $13,160,703.00 to the Judiciary, and, subsequently, on October 19, 2022, an additional $873,485.30 was awarded to the Judiciary to procure a new case management system. Consistent with U.S. Department of the Treasury Guidelines and the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Final Rule, the overall objectives of the Judiciary’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) spending for 2023 continued to focus on:

Sustaining judicial services on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota

Retrofitting and improving facilities and infrastructure

Preventing the spread of COVID-19

Allowing for social distancing

Enhancing technology for remote hearings and services

Reducing court backlogs

In early 2023, the implementation of the ARPA faced a temporary freeze, causing significant disruption to ongoing projects. However, through collaborative efforts and the support of the Governor and the Department of Finance, the Judiciary successfully navigated challenges, resulting in the eventual unfreezing of funds with certain limitations. The revised conditions included a monthly replenishment cap of $200,000 and permission to proceed with obligated contracts and other essential services, including payment of court-appointed counsel billings, and utility, communication and fuel expenses. Leveraging this opportunity, the Judiciary, in tandem with strategic planning and oversight, focused on completing the design of the ARPA Hall/Data Center and made significant strides with the second phase of eCourt. The design of the ARPA Hall/Data Center held paramount importance as it aims to secure historical court data and safeguard critical information technology equipment.

Throughout 2023, the Judiciary actively managed its ARPA funds with weekly leadership meetings and biweekly committee meetings. ARPA held weekly staff meetings, and additionally, the team participated in various committees such as the ARPA Report Editorial Board, website, cultural day planning, professional development planning, eCourt, eRecording, Judicial Council, procurement, capital improvement projects, annual report, and FEMA, and trainings such as Grants Management, policy trainings, and the annual professional development.

The program extended administrative support to various offices, including the Office of Procurement, Grants Management Office, Supreme Court Clerk’s Office, and the Supreme Court itself. In the initial months of 2023, Martha M. Standish, the ARPA Administrator, temporarily stepped into the role of Acting Procurement Officer following a vacancy. Upon the appointment of a new officer, Standish facilitated on-the-job training during the probationary period and sustained support throughout the year. Then in April, ARPA Administrator Standish assumed the temporary position of Acting Clerk of the Supreme Court, actively participating as a clerk for two oral arguments. She also continues to serve as the Judicial Council secretary, a role held since 2010.

As of December 31, 2024, over 51% of the ARPA award has been encumbered or obligated. Moving forward, the Judiciary remains committed to ongoing projects such as the construction of the ARPA Hall/Data Center, upgrade of the Courtroom Technology, completion of the Broadband Backbone project, and the award of the RFP for Scanning, Auditing, and Indexing Project. The program has 12 FTEs fully funded under ARPA and supplements personnel expenses of 12.5% for approximately 80

and 7.5% for

staff.

ARPA crew convenes to discuss the progress of the projects. (December 12, 2023)

The ARPA Program administrative team during Professional Development. (November 20, 2023)

TABLE 62. ARPA PROJECTS

PROJECT NAME CONTRACT NO.

RESTORATION OF JUDICIARY PUBLIC & STAFF RESTROOMS

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

FIBER CABLE UPGRADE

JUD-OC-2023-3/ 32200167 HBR International, Inc. 11/10/22 04/25/23

JUD-OC-2022-3/ 32200524 LexisNexis 11/30/21 11/29/24

JUD-OC-2022-5/ 32200818 Docomo Pacific 03/07/22 06/02/24

ON-CALL

ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING CONSULTING SERVICES

JUD-OC-202213/32201275

GUMA Architects, LLC 09/09/22

Ongoing

Fully renovate the public and staff restrooms at Guma' Hustisia.

3-year subscription of Lexis+ Law Library for legal research.

2-year subscription to Fiber Internet, which includes all glass fiber solution, symmetric speeds, and 200 Mbps download and upload speed; fixed business static IP; and fiber optic cabling installation and equipment configuration.

Provide the following A&E services: 1) Pre-design Phase; 2) Preliminary or Concept Design Phase; 3) Construction Document and Bid Assistance Phase; 4) Construction Administration Phase; and 5) Additional Requirements.

ARPA HALL & DATA CENTER

JUD-TAO-2022001-AO1 GUMA Architects, LLC 09/26/22 Ongoing

ELECTRONIC RECORDING SYSTEM

HVAC MAINTENANCE

ELEVATOR MODERNIZATION

E-COURTS

JANITORIAL SERVICES

JUD-OC-2022-7/ 32200927 TriMin Systems, Inc. 04/21/22 Ongoing

JUD-OC-202211/32201122 Chong's Corporation 12/19/22 12/16/25

JUD-OC-202215/32201300 Oceania Elevator Company, LLC 10/17/22 Ongoing

JUD-OC-2023-1/ 32300127 Journal Technologies, Inc. 10/21/22 Ongoing

JUD-OC-202310/32300653 Biba Marianas, LLC 06/22/23 06/23/24

SUPERIOR COURT CHAMBERS HALLWAYS & DOOR JAMBS PAINTING 22305007 Tano Group, Inc. 02/25/23 04/25/23

This Judicial Task Order is assigned to GUMA for the design and construction of the ARPA Hall/Data Center, a two-story building which will house the new ARPA Hall and Data Center, as well as offer covered parking for four car spaces and the option for future expansion.

Provide a fully integrated E-Recording System that is already developed and deployable; on-site training, software set-up, and phone/email support during business hours.

Provide three years of HVAC system maintenance services on a quarterly, semi-annual, and annual basis at the Guma' Hustisia.

Provide professional services to modernize one elevator at the Guma' Hustisia.

Initiate the migration of the CNMI Judiciary to the eCourt system; provide the needed professional services, maintenance and support, and the Software License and Hosting services.

Provide janitorial services, and all equipment and products necessary to complete its given tasks in a timely manner.

Provide professional services to paint the walls and door jambs on the 2nd Floor Superior Court Chamber hallways at the Guma' Hustisia.

ARPA Committee Meeting at the SSZ Conference Room. (June 22, 2023)

LAW REVISION COMMISSION

The Law Revision Commission (“LRC”) is the official compiler and publisher of Commonwealth law. LRC personnel continuously review administrative regulations, public and local laws, and judicial opinions to update and revise the LRC database and website. Each addition to the LRC website directly corresponds with the public and local laws passed by the Legislative Branch, administrative law promulgated by the Executive Branch, and case law by the Judicial Branch.

In 2023, LRC uploaded 23 public laws and 24 local laws from Saipan, Tinian, and Rota to its website. It uploaded 65 separate sections of permanent law to the CMC database on its website. Each section was reviewed for grammar, content, numbering, references, and uniformity. LRC reviewed, converted, and uploaded the 4 Commonwealth Registers published in 2023. It uploaded 13 Supreme Court opinions issued in 2023 onto its website. The Notices of Certification, Judicial Administrative Orders, and Court Rules published by the Supreme Court were also uploaded. In addition, several Superior Court decisions were uploaded and are available on the website.

GETTING TO KNOW... EMPL YEE SP TLIGHT

Albert A. Hicking Website/Office Manager

If you could give one piece of advice to someone newly starting the Judiciary, what would it be and why? Learn many skills, as well as the activities of the other divisions, so as to become a valuable asset to the Judiciary.

What's something you'd like to see changed in the Judiciary? A bigger building where all the staff can be in one place.

What’s a skill you’d like to learn or improve? Programming capabilities in Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) and JavaScript.

What is one thing that you want to spend more time doing in the next six months? Completing the conversion of all PDF documents to Hypertext Processor.

What advice would you give yourself if you were starting your career again? To keep track of all historical documents for all three branches of the CNMI government.

If you could only eat one item of food for the rest of your life, what would you eat? Fish.

What’s your favorite way to unwind after a busy work week? A cup of sakau.

Which is better overall – the Supreme Court or the Superior Court? No comment!

Office Manager Albert A. Hicking, Executive Director Dean M. Palacios, Executive Assistant Erica Cabrera, and Staff Attorney Moin Ghadimi at LRC Office, JCT Building in Susupe. (January 17, 2023)

Staff Attorney Moin Ghadimi provided training to Superior Court law clerks Emilia McManus and Daniel Johnson, as well as Program Specialist Kimberly Sosa. (October 20, 2023)

(From left) House Representative Vicent Seman Aldan, Senator Celina R. Babauta, Staff Attorney Moin Ghadimi, Executive Director Dean M. Palacios, Chief Justice Alexandro C. Castro, and Bruce L. Mailman, Esq. at a LRC lunch meeting. (August 24, 2023)

THE LAW & THE FRESHMAN LEGISLATOR

On January 6, 2023, the NMI Judiciary held its 10th Biennial Law and the Freshman Legislator Seminar at the Guma’ Hustisia in Susupe, Saipan. Nine newlyelected legislators, comprising of one senator and eight members of the House of Representatives, participated in the program. They included:

Senator-elect:

Dennis C. Mendiola (Rota)

Representative-elect:

Vincent S. Aldan (Saipan)

Diego F. Camacho (Saipan)

Manny T. Castro (Saipan)

Marissa R. Flores (Saipan)

Malcom J. Omar (Saipan)

Angelo A. Camacho (Saipan)

Thomas DLC. Mangloña (Saipan)

Julie A. Ogo (Rota)

Justices and judges from the Judiciary and U.S. District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands delivered various presentations.

The seminar commenced with Chief Justice Alexandro C. Castro addressing the historical and political relationships among the Covenant, CNMI Constitution, and U.S. Constitution. During the second session, Chief Judge Ramona V. Mangloña of the U.S. District Court presented on statutory interpretation, exploring how courts determine legislative intent, the constitutional limits of statutes, and issues commonly encountered in drafting legislation. In the third session, bench members Justice John A. Mangloña, Justice Perry B. Inos, Presiding Judge Roberto C. Naraja, Judge Kenneth L. Govendo, and Judge Joseph N. Camacho engaged in a discussion of common law and judgemade laws with the participants. The fourth session, led by Executive Director Dean M. Palacios of the Law Revision Commission, introduced the basics of legal research. The seminar concluded with a round-table discussion and luncheon, providing an opportunity for the newly-elected legislators to interact with local and federal justices and judges.

Group photo in the Supreme Court Courtroom

Introductory remarks given by Justice John A. Mangloña

Presentation on Statutory Interpretation conducted by Chief Judge Ramona V. Mangloña of the U.S. District Court for the NMI

Basics of Legal Research presentation conducted by Executive Director Dean M. Palacios.

Oran Kombetsasion: The Common Law with Justice John A. Mangloña, Justice Perry B. Inos, Presiding Judge Roberto C. Naraja, Judge Kenneth L. Govendo, and Judge Joseph N. Camacho.

JUDICIAL COUNCIL

Established in 2009, the Judicial Council plays a crucial role in ensuring efficient court management and implementing administrative actions to foster public trust in the judicial system. The Council formulates rules governing its affairs, provides recommendations for court rules to be submitted to the Legislature by the Supreme Court, and fulfills other duties mandated by law. Additionally, the Council oversees the financial management of the judicial branch, with Chief Justice Alexandro C. Castro serving as the chairperson.

The Council comprises five voting members, including the three justices of the Supreme Court, the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court, and one associate judge of the Superior Court, elected by all judges. It also includes at least three nonvoting members- the Clerk of the Supreme Court, the Clerk of the Superior Court and the President of the CNMI Bar Association. Additional non-voting members include the Director of Courts, General Counsel and Budget and Finance Director. The Council has assigned a secretary to provide administrative support since 2010. See Table 63 for list of Council members.

In 2023, the Judicial Council convened two regular business meetings in the Supreme Court Courtroom to address various matters pertinent to the Judiciary, including the adoption of Judicial Council Resolutions, American Rescue Plan Act, FY 2022 Closing Report, FY 2023 Fund Status, FY 2024 Proposed Budget, Capital Improvement Projects, division reports, Old and New Business, and other administrative concerns.

The first meeting was held on February 8, 2023, and the second meeting was on August 16, 2023. Judiciary managers were in attendance and readily available to field questions regarding their respective division or office.

TABLE 63. JUDICIAL COUNCIL MEMBERS AS OF 12/31/2023

VOTING MEMBERS

Hon. Alexandro C. Castro, Chief Justice

Hon. John A. Manglona, Associate Justice

Hon. Perry B. Inos, Associate Justice

Hon. Roberto C. Naraja, Presiding Judge

Hon. Joseph N. Camacho, Associate Judge

NON-VOTING MEMBERS

Judy T. Aldan, Clerk of the Supreme Court

Patrick V. Diaz, Clerk of the Superior Court

Charity R. Hodson, President of the NMI Bar Association

Judicial Council members convene their first regular business meeting of the year in the Supreme Court courtroom. (February 17, 2023)

Director of Courts Sonia A. Camacho (standing) addresses questions from members of the Judicial Council. (August 16, 2023)

ECOURT

The eCourt project marks a significant leap forward in Judiciary case management, replacing the outdated JustWare system.The new platform is a comprehensive solution, seamlessly integrating with Munis, File&ServeXpress, and eCitation for a streamlined workflow. Currently, the details of the system are being configured to meet the specific needs of the Judiciary and the community. While the timeline is still being refined, the Judiciary is committed to thorough implementation. Soon, eCourt will transform our judicial operations in 2024. This project, made possible by ARPA SubGrant CNMI22047 and our dedicated team, signifies our commitment to advancing justice through technology.

STRATEGIC PLAN 2023-28

The NMI Judiciary officially launched its new Strategic Plan, effective from December 2023 to November 2028, through two Judicial Council Resolutions. The Plan’s theme is “Parehu i Hustisia gi papa’ i Lai” and outlines seven goals for the next five years. These goals include ensuring access to justice, facilitating fair and timely case resolution, advancing specialized treatment court services, implementing adaptive technology, promoting an efficient and professional workforce, fostering civic engagement, and bolstering capital improvement and renovations.

The Strategic Plan’s objectives have been carefully tailored to support the Judiciary’s Mission and Vision by ensuring open access to justice for the community through an impartial and accountable Judiciary. Notably, the Strategic Plan represents a commitment to expand access to the courts, improve specialized treatment court services, and promote community outreach efforts. A dedicated committee developed the Plan under the guidance of the Judicial Council, incorporating valuable feedback from Judiciary staff, government partners, the CNMI Bar Association, community leaders, court-qualified interpreters, and past jurors.

In implementing this Plan, the Judiciary also adopted their Organizational Chart. The chart clarifies the hierarchical structure within the Judiciary and provides updated position titles for members of court administration. The Chart aims to promote operational efficiency, providing a clearer understanding of the roles and responsibilities within the Judiciary.

Director of Courts Sonia A. Camacho and Law Clerk Patrick C. Quimby present on the Strategic Plan and Organzational Chart on day 2 of the Professional Development Conference. (November 21, 2023)

Left photo: Data Systems Analyst Mark G. Hidalgo provides background on eCourt at the Professional Development Conference. (November 21, 2023)

Right photo: eCourt Committee Meeting. (November 02, 2023)

MOCK TRIAL

The NMI High School Mock Trial competition made a triumphant return after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Students from defending champion Marianas High School (MHS), Saipan Southern High School (SSHS), and Dr. Rita Hocog Inos Senior High School engaged in competition. The victorious team represented the CNMI at the National Mock Trial Competition in Little Rock, Arkansas, on May 18-20, 2023.

This year's competition centered around the fictitious theft of parts from the historic Japanese WWII tank on Beach Road. Students showcased their legal skills by taking on roles as attorneys and witnesses for both the prosecution and defense. Local and federal judges and justices presided over the proceedings, while dedicated volunteers from the NMI Bar Association served as jurors. The Mock Trial Committee consists of Coordinator Judy T. Aldan and members Justice John A. Mangloña, Justice Perry B. Inos, Law Clerks Keith H. Ketola and Benjamin S. Schwartz, Judicial Assistant Josephine N. Estrada, Programs Specialist Jennalyd S. Babauta, ARPA Scanning Clerk Tracy D. Limes, NMI Judiciary Historical Society members Bernie B. Dela Cruz and Emma B. Peters, and NMI Bar Association Executive Director Peonie C. Cabrera. Volunteer tabulators included Special Projects and Infrastructure Coordinator Bryan S. Bocago, Dencio V. Mangloña and ARPA Administrator Martha M. Standish. The event was sponsored by the Judiciary, Public School System, NMI Bar Association and NMI Judiciary Historical Society.

Rounds 1-3 unfolded on February 16, 2023, leading up to the Championship Round and Awards Ceremony on February 17, 2023. Team MHS emerged as the 2023 NMI Mock Trial Champions, successfully defending their crown by defeating Saipan Southern High School in the Championship Round.

Mock Trial Coordinator Judy T Aldan, Esq. presents during the Awards Ceremony in the Guma’ Hustisia Atrium. (February 17, 2023)

Chief Justice Alexandro C. Castro speaking during the 2023 Mock Trial Awards Ceremony. (February 17, 2023)

Round 1. (February 16, 2023)

Round 2. (February 16, 2023)

Round 3. (February 16, 2023)

2023 Mock Trial Champions Marianas High School students pose for a group photo in the Guma’ Hustisia Atrium. (February 17, 2023)

MOCK TRIAL

Individual awards also recognized Conall Hartig of MHS as the best prosecution witness and Jane Mozunder from MHS as the best defense witness. Honorable mentions included Jessie Lyn Reyes from SSHS for defense witness, Ye Zhi Sablan from SSHS for defense attorney, Jia Ross Nicdao from MHS for prosecution witness, and Aden Calvo from Dr Rita Hocog Inos Jr.-Sr. High School for prosecution attorney.

In addition to Goodwin, Hartig, Nicdao, and Mozunder, the MHS team included Hayden Igisomar, Hannah Lim, Prapti Mondal, Sienna Morgan, Anastasia Shamanaeva, and Kelly Zheng.

The Dr. Rita Hocog Inos Jr.-Sr. High School team, along with Aden Calvo, included Zayden Atalig, Rianna Barcinas, Alwayn Bermeo, Carlos Calvo, Jelina Calvo, Bernice Feolino, Elmer Guiang, Lovelee Jingco, Eianne Ladao, Son Joe Manuel, and Sayera Sidur. Their teachercoaches were Joycelynn Atalig and Charlene Mangloña, with attorneycoaches Oliver Mangloña and Charity Hodson.

The SSHS student team, along with Ye Zhi Sablan and Jessie Lyn Reyes, were Judy Andebor, Aisha Lansangan, Jing Lin, Shamira Sulyman, and Andrew Sunderland. Their teacher-coaches were Paul and Dora Miura, and attorney-coaches were Jose Mafnas Jr. and Janina Maratita.

The inception of the national mock trial championship dates back to 1984 in Des Moines, Iowa, where teams from Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Wisconsin first participated. Following the success of the tournament in Iowa, more states expressed interest, leading to the evolution of the competition into an "All-State" Tournament. The venue subsequently shifted to Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1985, expanding to include participants from 10 states.

To ensure equitable distribution of the financial responsibilities associated with hosting the tournament, it is organized annually by different states.

The competition, which typically involves 46 teams, has broadened its reach to include participants from the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, South Korea, and State Champion teams from across the United States.

SSHS students and their teacher-coaches pose for a group photo. (February 16, 2023)

Andrew Sunderland from SSHS during the 2nd session of the 2023 Mock Trial. (February 16, 2023)

Conall Hartig of MHS wins the best prosecution witness . (February 17, 2023)

Jane Mozunder of MHS wins the best defense witness. (February 17, 2023)

Mylan Goodwin of MHS wins the best prosecution attorney. (February 17, 2023)

2023 Mock Trial agenda.(February 16, 2023)

WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH

International Women's Day (IWD) is a global celebration of the economic, political, cultural, and social achievements of women, which took place for the first time on March 8, 1911. Since then, IWD has been celebrated around the world. Also ever year, March is designated as Women's History Month - a month dedicated to honoring women's contributions to society. In honor of IWD, the women of the NMI Judiciary wore the colors purple, green, and white, which represent IWD. Purple signifies justice and dignity, and being loyal to the cause. Green symbolizes hope. White represents purity. The colors originated from the Women's Social and Political Union in the United Kingdom in 1908. Also in recognition of IWD, a special video was created by ARPA ISO Support Specialist Rogelio “Vhoie” Francia to highlight the hard work and positive accomplishments of the women of Guma' Hustisia, Kotten Tinian, and Rota Centron Hustisia.

Judge Teresa K. Kim-Tenorio (center) and women from the NMI Judiciary recognize Women’s History Month. (March 8, 2023)

In recognition of Women’s History Month, Judiciary leaders and staff gathered in front of the Guma’ Hustisia proudly displaying the commemorative colors. Centered in each photo is Judge Teresa K. Kim-Tenorio. (March 8, 2023)

COURT TOURS

The Judiciary’s court tours have proven to be both successful and enriching, particularly for students and young adults. A total of six tours were conducted throughout the year.

The Judiciary remains committed to providing guided tours, ensuring that this valuable opportunity for education and insight is accesible to the community. If you or your organization are interested in arranging a tour, please visit our website at www.nmijudiciary.gov. Navigate to the resource tab and click on “arrange a tour” to easily register and reserve a date.

Mount Carmel School students engage with Associate Justice Perry B. Inos, Chief Justice Alexandro C. Castro and Associate Justice John A. Mangloña. (March 31, 2023)

MCS tours the Judiciary Administrative Office and the Office of General Counsel. From left: Human Administrative/Resource Specialist Rebecca R. Santos, Director of Courts Sonia A. Camacho and General Counsel Hyun Jae Lee. (March 31, 2023)

CNMI Girl Scouts had the opportunity to meet and engage with Associate Judge Teresa K. Kim-Tenorio and other women leaders from the NMI Judiciary Court. (August 1, 2023)

Supreme Court Clerk of Court Judy T. Aldan gives welcoming remarks to the students from Saipan Community School. (April 21, 2023)

Koblerville Elementary School students had the opportunity to meet and engage with Chief Justice Alexandro C. Castro and Associate Justice Perry B. Inos. (November 17, 2023)

Students from the Bada Art Studio had the opportunity to meet and engage with Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho. (August 3, 2023)

Da’ok Academy students had the opportunity to meet and engage with Chief Justice Alexandro C. Castro and Justice John A. Mangloña and Justice Perry B. Inos. (December 20, 2023)

PALAU JOB SHADOW PROGRAM

On March 3, 2023, the Palau Judiciary initiated communication with Director of Courts Sonia A. Camacho, expressing interest in implementing a job shadow program. Upon request approval, the job shadow program occurred from April 3-6, 2023, at the Guma’ Hustisia. The Palau Judiciary delegation was represented by:

Ryobch W. Luii, Budget Officer

Knox O. Tkel, Senior Computer Technician

Obertin Amalei, Computer Technician

Eden U. Benhart, Deputy Budget Officer

Cher Ashley Kyota, Chamber Clerk

Halora P. Fakatou, Law Librarian

The Palau Judiciary delegation actively participated in an array of meetings and training sessions focusing on the following key areas:

ARPA Leadership Meeting

Judiciary Mission and Vision Statement

5-Year Strategic Plan

Website and Social Media Platforms

Network and Server Management

Docket and Case Management System: Trial and Appellate (Rules, Procedures, Other); eFiling: Supreme Court Order; File and ServeXpress; LaserFiche; (New Dawn) Justware; eCourt: eProbation, eCitation, Treatment Courts; and InterIsland Coordination

TRAININGS WERE FACILITATED BY THE FOLLOWING:

Martha M. Standish, ARPA Administrator

John T. Villagomez, Budget and Finance Director

Judy T. Aldan, Clerk of Court, Supreme Court

Patrick V. Diaz, Clerk of Court, Superior Court

Michael C. Villacrusis, Systems Administrator

Jorale James A. Mendoza, Computer Specialist

Rogelio N. Francia, ISO Support Specialist

Kristine D. Laurio, ISO Assistant

Frank Eli Vincent P. Camacho, ISO Assistant

Director of Courts Sonia A. Camacho (standing) discusses the Judiciary’s 5-Year Strategic Plan with the Palau Judiciary team. (April 3, 2023)

Software, Hardware, License, and Access Procedures

Document Retention Policy and Procedures

E-Recording: Landlink and Landshark

Door Access Card Reader

Budget and Finance

Local Budget

Federal and Alternate Sources

Fiduciary Accounts

MUNIS: Procurement (Purchasing, Bid Management and Contracts); Enterprise Asset Management; and Human Capital Management

Commonwealth Recorder Kelsey G. Aldan (standing, left) navigates through the E-Recording portal for the Palau Judiciary team. (April 4, 2023)

ARPA Administrator Martha M. Standish (standing) explains the Requisition Entry and Purchase Order processes on MUNIS to members of the Palau Judiciary team. (April 5, 2023)

TREATMENT COURT MONTH

On May 4, the Judiciary sponsored two ceremonies at the Guma’ Hustisia, coinciding with the nationwide recognition of May as Treatment Court Month. This initiative highlights the successful outcome achieved by both programs in transforming lives and serves as an educational platform for the public about available resources.

Drug Court Graduation Ceremony - The CNMI Drug Court program held a graduation ceremony at the Hibiscus Hall in the Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan, celebrating the successful completion of the program by six individuals. The event resonated with hope and transformation, acknowledging the remarkable strength and resilience of the graduates as they navigate their recovery journey. Distinguished guests including Acting Governor David M. Apatang, Magistrate Judge Heather L. Kennedy of the U.S District Court for the NMI, stakeholders, Judiciary staff, and proud families and friends of the graduates.

Treatment Court Month Proclamation - Further emphasizing their commitment to supporting individuals struggling with addiction and mental health challenges, Acting Governor Apatang signed the proclamation designating May as CNMI Treatment Court Month. This initiative aims to raise awareness about the critical role treatment and rehabilitation play in fostering healthier communities. The proclamation encourages widespread community support for the Treatment Court programs and its participants, empowering them to achieve a brighter future.

Driven by a commitment that extends beyond individual success stories within Treatment Court programs, the Judiciary actively fosters public awareness and understanding. This dedication fuels the creation of a more supportive and inclusive environment for individuals seeking treatment and recovery, ultimately paving the way for a healthier and more resilient society as a whole.

PRE-TRIAL, PROBATION, AND PAROLE SUPERVISION PROCLAMATION

SIGNING

KAGMAN COMMUNITY CENTER

SAIPAN, JULY 14

KOTTEN TINIAN

CENTRON HUSTISIA TINIAN, JULY 18

ROTA

ROTA, JULY 19

The Office of Adult Probation Supervision (OAPS) celebrated the 23rd annual Pretrial, Probation, and Parole Supervision Week (PPPS) from July 16-22, 2023. This year’s theme "Stronger Together" encapsulates the essence of teamwork and problem-solving between the OAPS, Juvenile Probation Unit, and the Board of Parole Office in ensuring that individuals on probation or parole are guided towards a better path, while reducing the rate of recidivism during their integration into society. The proclamation signing ceremonies for PPPS week were held on: July 14, 2023 at the Kagman Community Center; July 18, 2023 at Kotten Tinian; and July 19, 2023 at Rota Centron Hustisia.

Other events celebrating PPPS week included a luncheon hosted by the OAPS and a Bird Island Hike.

Front row: Graduates from the Drug Court program who triumphed over adversity and embarked on a new path. (May 4, 2023)

Caseworker Kycel P, Butters and former MHC Clinical Liason Mia A. Jones speak to a family during a community outreach event at the American Memorial Park. (May 6, 2023)

COMMONWEALTH CULTURAL DAY

The Judiciary held its 3rd Annual Commonwealth Cultural Day festivities at the Guma’ Hustisia Atrium on Friday, October 6, 2023, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The staff decorated the atrium and showcased a wide range of historical exhibits, handicrafts, and culinary delicacies from the Marianas, Micronesia, Polynesia, United States, Asia, and Europe. The event also featured cultural performances by Simiyan Marianas, Petlas Marianas, and Poksai dance group. Other exhibits included a booth from the Northern Marianas Arts Council and the Indigenous Affairs mwaar mwaar/weaving demonstrations.

This year, the Judiciary also hosted the inaugural Customs, Traditions, and the Law Fiyóng · Kombetsasion in the Guma’ Hustisia Assembly Hall. Attorneys from the CNMI Bar Association, Kagman Elementary School students, and members of the public learned how customs and traditions of the Refaluwasch and Chamorro communities interact with the judicial system. Individuals in attendance include Governor Arnold I. Palacios, the public, and members of the NMI and federal benches. The event was sponsored by the Judiciary Historical Society in collaboration with Northern Marianas College.

Pictured above is the Fiyóng panel, including moderator Catherine R. Perry and panelists Lino M. Olopai, Melvin L.O. Faisao, Manuel Mangarero, Ramon A. Tebuteb, and Cecilio Raikiulipy.

The Kombetsasion panelists were Marie Soledad Camacho Castro, Donald B. Mendiola, Genevieve S. Cabrera, and Joey P. San Nicolas, with moderator Thomas Mangloña II.

FAMILY COURT NIGHT SESSION

This innovative approach underscores the Judiciary's dedication and commitment to ensuring that all individuals have access to the justice system.

7,

In a significant move to enhance access to justice, the Judiciary introduced Family Court Night Sessions. These after-hour sessions, held on the first or second Tuesday of every month from 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., are specifically designed to accommodate working individuals who face difficulties attending court during regular business hours. The inaugural night session took place on November 7, 2023, at the Guma’ Hustisia, with Associate Judge Teresa K. Kim-Tenorio presiding over more than ten cases primarily involving child support matters. The second night session was held on December 12, 2023.

The implementation of Family Court Night Sessions is a testament to the Judiciary's commitment to its Strategic Plan Goal No. 2: Access to Justice. By providing evening sessions, the court seeks to address the challenges faced by working parents who need to balance their legal obligations with their employment responsibilities. This initiative aligns with the Judiciary's recognition that consistent employment is crucial for fulfilling child support obligations.

The success of the pilot program led by Judge Teresa K. Kim-Tenorio has raised optimism for the potential expansion of similar night sessions for additional dockets in the Superior Court. Chief Justice Alexandro C. Castro expressed his satisfaction with the successful launch of the night session program, stating that it is a major step towards the Judiciary's goal of ensuring access to justice. Presiding Judge Roberto C. Naraja also praised the initiative, noting that it will be of great assistance to the community, especially working parents. This innovative approach underscores the Judiciary's dedication and commitment to ensuring that all individuals have access to the justice system.

The Superior Court Calendars for the November 7th and December 12th Family Court Night Sessions at the Guma’ Hustisia.

Seated from back left, Law Clerk James V. Hallisey, Associate Judge Teresa K. Kim-Tenorio, and Deputy Clerk I Gregorio U. Tudela. Standing from front left, Acting Family Court Manager Roxanne C Torres, Attorney Janet King, Deputy Marshal III Roemar Segotier, Assistant Attorney General Tom Schweiger, and Division of Youth Services Caseworker Christine Aldan. (November 7, 2023)

From left, Deputy Clerk I Gregorio U. Tudela, Acting Family Court Manager Roxanne C. Torres, Associate Judge Teresa K. Kim-Tenorio, Deputy Marshal I Maria M. Tudela, Law Clerk James V. Hallisey, Judicial Assistant Sabrina Dela Cruz, Special Assistant to the Presiding Judge Janina Maratita, and Deputy Marshal III Roemar M. Segotier. (November

2023)

Judge Teresa K. Kim-Tenorio (seated far right) meets with Judiciary staff to discuss and plan for the launch of the Family Court Division’s night sessions. (September 7, 2023)

JUDICIARY ANNUAL FIREARMS COMPETITION

Law Enforcement

and personnel

including

Probation

On October 28, the Judiciary hosted the inaugural Annual Firearms Competition at the DPS Range in San Juan, Saipan. Competitors consisting of Judiciary Law Enforcement Units and personnelincluding Marshals, Probation Officers, Drug Court Compliance Officers, and licensed staff - vied for the title of Judiciary Sharpshooter 2023. In addition to an excellent display of marksmanship skill and capabilities, the competitors also reinforced and strengthened the unit cohesion between the various divisions represented.

The competition, which was organized by Drug Court Compliance Officer Dustin B. Pangelinan, focused on overall marksmanship abilities revolving around accuracy, precision, and speed in hitting shooting range targets. A total of eleven rounds were scheduled for the competition, but after only eight rounds, Edward P. Diaz was the last competitor standing and named 2023 Top Shot.

Judiciary

Units

-

Marshals,

Officers, Drug Court Compliance Officers, and licensed staff - take aim at their targets at the DPS range. (October 28, 2023)

Compliance Officer Dustin Pangelinan (standing) conducts an orientation with the competitors at the Guma’ Hustisia Assembly Hall. (October 27, 2023)

Competitors with event supporter Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho (center) at the 2023 Professional Development. (November 21, 2023)

Judiciary Sharpshooter 2023, Edward Diaz receives the inaugural plaque during the 2023 Professional Development. (November 21, 2023)

Competitors took aim to shoot a photo with Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho (center) at the DPS range. (October 28, 2023)

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE

The NMI Judiciary successfully organized its highly anticipated Professional Development Conference on November 20, 2023, at the Guma' Hustisia Courthouse, followed by a second day on November 21, 2023, at Kensington Hotel. During the conference at the Guma' Hustisia, Law Clerk Paige Lehman and Law Revision Commission Staff Attorney Moin Ghadimi assumed the roles of emcees, ensuring the smooth flow of the event.

The conference commenced with welcoming remarks from Chief Justice Alexandro C. Castro and Acting Presiding Judge Kenneth L. Govendo. Their opening words set a positive and inspiring tone for the event. Subsequently, an engaging team-building exercise was conducted by various departments, including the Grants Administrative Office, ARPA, Commonwealth Recorder's Office, and the Facilities Management Office. This exercise aimed to foster collaboration, enhance communication, and strengthen relationships among the Judiciary staff.

The Superior Court Courtrooms served as the venue for the informative and interactive breakout sessions. In the first session, attendees had the opportunity to choose from various categories, such as Individual First Aid Kit Training, Professional Writing Refresher, Microsoft Apps, and Public Speaking. These sessions aimed to enhance essential skills necessary for professional growth. The second session offered equally diverse categories, including Individual First Aid Kit Training, 35th Year Anniversary, Charts and Graphs, and Stress Management/Meditation. These sessions provided valuable insights and knowledge-sharing amongst the staff.

A special presentation on Artificial Intelligence (AI) was conducted by Jerome Ortiz, the NMC Interim Director of Information Technology. Attendees gained information and resources that can greatly benefit them in their daily tasks. The presentation highlighted how AI can assist individuals in summarizing reports and even responding to emails, whether formal or informal. Examples of AI mentioned were popular digital assistants like Siri (Apple Inc.), Alexa (Amazon), ChatGPT (OpenAI), and Cortana (Microsoft).

The conference also prioritized the well-being of the staff by organizing a Health and Wellness Fair in the Atrium. Participants had access to services such as blood pressure and glucose checks provided by Hardt Eye Clinic, oral cancer screenings conducted by the Saipan Seventh-Day Adventist Clinic, Tai Chi sessions led by NMC Assistant Professor II Barry Wicksman, and invigorating Zumba workouts facilitated by Mary Grace Bautista in the Assembly Hall. These activities aimed to promote physical and mental well-being, reinforcing the Judiciary's commitment to a balanced and healthy working environment. Overall, the NMI Judiciary's Professional Development Conference served as a platform for growth, knowledge-sharing, and fostering a supportive community within the organization.

Staff listen in during the breakout sessions held in the Superior Court courtrooms. (November 20, 2023)

NMC Interim Director of Information Technology Jerome Ortiz conducts a presentation on AI. (November 20, 2023)

NMI Judiciary leaders and staff gather for a group photo during the Professional Development Day 1 in the Atrium. (November 20, 2023)

New employee recognition on the first day of the Professional Development Conference. (November 20, 2023)

Day 2 of the NMI Judiciary's Professional Development Conference was moderated by Data Systems Analyst Mark G. Hidalgo and Deputy Clerk III Novelyn A. WaniaTenorio.

Director of Courts Sonia A. Camacho and Law Clerk Patrick C. Quimby took the stage to present the Strategic Plan, Organizational Chart, and COOP (Continuity of Operations Plan). Through their presentation, the Judiciary leaders and staff gained valuable insights into the goals and aspirations of the NMI Judiciary for the years 2023-2028, along with the strategies to achieve them

Fromleft,DeputyClerkI(Tinian)JanChristin S.CabreraandScanningClerksMiccaB. King,ElviraM.ManglonaandTracyD. Limesposeaftertheirpresentationonthe ARPAReportsDigitizationProject. (November21,2023)

ARPAInformationSystemsSpecialistRogelio N.FranciapresentsaboutCourtBranding andWebsiteDevelopment. (November21,2023)

Other engaging presentations were presented by Scanning Clerk Elvira M. Manglona joined by Deputy Clerk I Jan Christin S. Cabrera, Scanning Clerks Tracy D. Limes and Micca B. King, about the ARPA Reports Digitization Project. ARPA Information Systems Support Specialist Rogelio N. Francia presented on Court Branding, including Email and Letterhead Formatting, as well as Website Development. Director of Courts Sonia A. Camacho shared insights on Human Resources through a Desk Audit presentation. LEP Coordinator Lana Jean C. Togawa presented on the Language Access Plan and Policy. Lastly, Supreme Court Law Clerks Patrick C. Quimby, Paige Lehman, and Nathan M. Ford presented on Moot Court.

The NMI Judiciary held its first Annual Firearm Competition on October 28, 2023, at the DPS Range in San Juan. Drug Court Manager Edward P. Diaz was commendably recognized for his outstanding performance in the competition, securing the prestigious title of the NMI Judiciary's 2023 Sharpshooter.

In addition to celebrating achievements, the conference also paid tribute to Associate Judge Wesley M. Bogdan for his well-deserved retirement. A special ceremony was conducted by Special Assistant to the Presiding Judge Janina Maratita and Superior Court Law Clerk Tina V. Ngo to honor Judge Bogdan's dedicated service.

To promote a holistic atmosphere, the conference’s schedule incorporated entertainment and wellness activities for the rest of the afternoon. This provided attendees with an opportunity to unwind, recharge, and foster meaningful connections with their peers, further nurturing a balanced and highly collaborative working environment within the NMI Judiciary.

NMI Judiciary leaders and staff gather for a group photo during the Professional Development Day 2 at the Kensington Hotel. (November 21, 2023)

DeputyClerkIIINovelynA.Wania-Tenorio andDataSystemsAnalystMarkG. HidalgoemceedfortheProfessional DevelopmentConference. (November21,2023)

DirectorofCourtsSoniaA.Camachoand LawClerkPatrickC.Quimbytalkaboutthe proposedorganizationalchart. (November21,2023)

ChiefJusticeAlexandroC.Castro(left)and JusticePerryB.Inos(right)presenttheSharp ShooterawardtoDrugCourtManager EdwardP.Diaz(center). (November21,2023)

ThefirstAnnualFirearmCompetition competitorsposeforagroupphoto. (November21,2023)

Judiciary managers and staff participate in a fun team building activity. (November 21, 2023)

The NMI Judiciary recognizes and awards Associate Judge Wesley M. Bogdan for his hard work and dedication he committed to the Judiciary as he signs off his retirement. (November 21, 2023)

JUDGE WESLEY M. BOGDAN’S RETIREMENT

The Commonwealth Judiciary congratulates the Honorable Wesley M. Bogdan, who retired from the bench in December 2023, for his distinguished career as an Associate Judge of the Commonwealth and for his contributions and commitment to the administration of justice. Judge Bogdan has served the Commonwealth for more than two decades as an Associate Judge, Justice Pro Tem, Legal Counsel to two Governors, and as an Assistant Attorney General and Assistant Public Defender.

Judge Bogdan ascended to the bench in August 2017 when he was appointed to serve as Associate Judge by Governor Ralph DLG Torres. He was retained to stay on the bench during the 2022 General Election. Judge Bogdan served on the bench for over six years. He was an integral member on key committees of the Commonwealth Judiciary, including the Committee on the Procedure for Administrative Appeals, the Small Claims Court Rules Revision Committee, and the Continuing Legal Education Committee. Judge Bogdan authored dozens of published opinions during the course of his career on the bench. Before moving to the Northern Mariana Islands, Judge Bogdan received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business and Political Science from the University of Texas. He obtained his Juris Doctorate degree at the University of New Mexico School of Law in 1992 and worked as a Judicial Clerk for the New Mexico Court of Appeals in Albuquerque from 1992 to 1994. He has a Specialty Certificate in Environmental Law from the University of New Mexico School of Law and graduated from the National Criminal Defense College Trial Practice Institute program.

Judge Bogdan moved to the Northern Mariana Islands in 1994, where he has resided for the past three decades. He worked at the Attorney General’s office and the Public Defender’s office before moving to private practice for several years. From 2009 to 2012, Judge Bogdan worked as the Deputy Director of the Legal Department and for the Acting President of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He co-founded the Northern Mariana Islands Football Association and remains an Executive Committee Member.

Judge Bogdan has served as the Chairman of the CNMI Bar Association Continuing Legal Education Committee and as a member of the CNMI Bar Association Disciplinary Committee. He has taught at the Northern Marianas College and frequently volunteers at mock trial competitions. In his spare time, he enjoys surfing, playing bass guitar and drums, and spending time with his wife Tomoko, who he met at a beach on Saipan.

Retiring of the Robe: Judge Wesley M. Bogdan retires his robe to Acting Presiding Judge Kenneth L. Govendo during a special ceremony at the Judiciary’s DevelopmentProfessionalConference.

Honorable Wesley M. Bogdan receives a plaque for his distinguished career as an Associate Judge of the Commonwealth Superior Court.

From left: Law Clerk Tina V. Ngo, Deputy Clerk Delia C. Barcinas, Judicial Assistant Vivian S. Dela Cruz, Judge Bogdan, Deputy Clerk Eva-Sophia Calvo, Special Assistant to the Presiding Judge Janina Maratita, and Director of Courts Sonia A. Camacho. (November 21, 2023)

PACIFIC JUDICIAL COUNCIL

The Pacific Judicial Council Information Technology Conference was held on Saipan from November 29, 2023 to December 1, 2023. Delegates from Guam, CNMI, Palau, American Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia, Chuuk, Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Yap convened to discover the “New Age” of technology and learn a myriad of ways to incorporate modern-day technological tools into the deliverance of justice. The conference was held at the Charley’s Room in the Pacific Islands Club, with Magistrate Judge for the District Court of Guam Michael J. Bordallo as Masterof Ceremony. The conference had a participant count of 76, which consisted of staff, presenters, members of the bench, and attorneys from across the pacific.

To kick-off the conference, the NMI Judiciary hosted a Welcome Dinner for the PJC dignitaries at Coral Ocean Resort on November 29, 2023 and to conclude, a court tour of the Guma’ Hustisia was arranged. The court tour honed in on the technological equipment and services utilized in the CNMI such as the video wall, courtroom calendars, eRecording platform, MSTeams, ForTheRecord, File&Serve Xpress, and more.

Front, from left: Acting Chief Justice Beauleen Worswick-Carl (FSM Supreme Court), Justice Daniel Crothers from (North Dakota Supreme Court), Chief Justice Robert J. Torres, Jr. (Supreme Court of Guam), Chief Justice Jayson Robert (Chuuk State Supreme Court), Chief Justice Alexandro C. Castro (NMI Supreme Court), Chief Judge Ramona V. Mangloña (District Court for the NMI), Justice F. Philip Carbullido (Supreme Court of Guam), Acting Chief Justice Edmond Salik (Kosrae State Court), Justice Fred Isaacs (Supreme Court of Palau)

Middle, from left: Justice Erwine Hadley-Nanpei (Pohnpei State Supreme Court), Chief Justice Antonia P. Moses (U Municipal Court, Pohnpei), Senior Judge Rose Mary Skebong (Land Court of the Palau Judiciary), Judge Dana A. Gutierrez (Judiciary of Guam), Chief Justice Kerley Araceley (Kolonia Town Court, Pohnpei), Justice Harry Narruhn (Chuuk State Supreme Court), Justice Honora Rudimch (Palau Supreme Court, Trial Division), Senior Judge G. Midth Bells (Court of Common Pleas, Palau), Acting Associate Justice Elvis Pila-Patea (High Court of American Samoa), Chief Justice Ensler Rizana (Pingelap Municipal Court, Pohnpei), Principal Judge Robinson Timothy (Kosrae State Judiciary), Judge Arthur R. Barcinas (Judiciary of Guam), Chief Justice Tex P. Aldis (Sokehs Municipal Court, Pohnpei), Judge Jackson F. Joseph (Nett District Court, Pohnpei)

Back, from left: Magistrate Judge Michael J. Bordallo (United States District Court of Guam), Magistrate Judge Heather L. Kennedy (District Court for the NMI), Justice Jonathan Tun (Yap State Court), Administrative Hearing Officer Kristina Baird (Judiciary of Guam), Principal Judge Jackson Smith (Pohnpei State Court of Land Tenure), Justice John A. Mangloña (NMI Supreme Court), Judge Pro Tempore James Limar (Yap State Court), Chief Justice Jackson Luke (Madolenihmw Municipal Court, Pohnpei), Judge John C. Terlaje (Judiciary of Guam), Judge Gwen Tauiliili-Langkilde (High Court of American Samoa)

Justice John A. Manglona delivers the openning remarks during the PJC Welcome Dinner held at Coral Ocean Point. (November 29, 2023)

Pacific Judicial Council participants tour the Guma’ Hustisia to learn about the various technological equipment utilized. (December 1, 2023)

MARIANAS HIGH SWEEPS MOOT COURT

The Judiciary organized the Commonwealth’s inaugural High School Moot Court Competition in celebration of Constitution Day. The two-day tournament took place on December 6-7, 2023, at the Guma’ Hustisia and featured nine teams of two students from three different high schools including Dr. Rita H. Inos Jr. Sr. High School, Marianas High School, and Saipan International School.

To prepare for the competition, the students engaged in a comprehensive Moot Court program over a course of ten weeks, including appellate advocacy workshops, drafting legal briefs and honing analytical skills.

Unlike Mock Trial, which focuses on presenting evidence to a jury, Moot Court requires competitors to give a 10-minute legal argument requesting the appellate court to either affirm or overturn a decision by the trial court below. Student advocates compete in teams of two, arguing for their side on two separate legal issues in front of a panel of justices.

Supreme Court Law Clerks Patrick Quimby, Nathan Ford, and Paige Lehman led the students in three workshops throughout the fall The Law Clerks, in addition to Supreme Court Clerk of Court Judy Aldan, presented the program to various high schools across the CNMI.

The focus and purpose of this program has been to introduce the competitors to some of the fundamental building blocks of appellate advocacy: statutory interpretation, constitutional analysis, reading and analyzing case law, and preparing a basic persuasive argument that incorporates the aforementioned skills.

During oral arguments, Justices judged students on the content of their argument, their ability to clearly and succinctly answer questions with authority, and good courtroom demeanor.

Teams meet with the Supreme Court Law Clerks to discuss the Moot Court problem. (October 6, 2023)

Moot court teams in the Superior Court. (December 6, 2023)

Champions Princes Habal and Julia Taitano from Marianas High School receive the Moot Court perpetual trophy. (December 7, 2023)

(September 12, 2023)

Supreme Court Clerk of Court and Law Clerks prepare to recruit teams from various high schools.

Attorneys Michael A. White, Gretchen A. Smith, and Janet H. King serving as mock Justices during the Semi-Final. (December 6, 2023)

All students were awarded certificates recognizing their achievement in participating in Moot Court, and were additionally eligible for various awards, based upon their scores in the competition:

Champions: Princes Habal and Julia Taitano (MHS)

Finalists: Jenny Zhang and Yejin Son (MHS)

Semi-Finalists: Libby Tom and Mimi Culp (SIS); Michael Zhou and Irene Park (SIS)

Best Oral Advocates: Princes Habal (MHS); Jenny Zhang (MHS)

Honorable Mentions – Oral Advocates: Hestina Park (SIS); Zhendrix

Jandoc (MHS)

Best Brief: Princes Habal and Julia Taitano (MHS)

The simulated case, Sablan v. Anatahan High School, involved the discovery of an antique fishing spear during an unconsented search of a student's truck by a school official. Contestants addressed two legal questions: whether the search violated the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and whether the fishing spear qualified as a dangerous or deadly weapon.

NMI Moot Court Champions and Finalists will compete against other high school teams from across the world in the NAMC Regional Tournament in Santa Barbara. Student advocates will tackle a new case problem, Chambers v. New Storke, asking whether the conviction of a man for certain actions on Twitter violate the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.

The audience had access to the Moot Court program in digital format.

JUDICIARY

FEDERAL GRANTS

POLICY & SPENDING PLAN TRAINING

On April 14, 2023, the Office of the General Counsel, the Grants Management Office, and the Budget and Finance Office collaborated to deliver a mandatory Judiciary Federal Grants Policy and Spending Plan Training. This comprehensive session targeted managers, designees, and staff involved in grant administration, equipping them with essential knowledge for compliant and efficient grant management.

General Counsel Hyun Jae Lee led the training, emphasizing adherence to federal regulations and the Judiciary's own grant policy. Her presentation clarified various key aspects, including:

Compliance guidelines: Ensuring all grant activities align with federal requirements and the organization's policy framework.

Funding timelines and deadlines: Raising awareness of pre-application, application, and award deadlines for informed grant seeking.

Budget and Finance Director John T. Villagomez followed with insights on constructing effective spending plans. He provided essential guidance on:

Budgetary considerations: Establishing and maintaining appropriate budgets for individual grants, ensuring responsible financial management.

Spending plan development: Practical steps and best practices for crafting clear and efficient spending plans.

GeneralCounselHyunJaeLee(atpodium)provides backgroundontheJudiciary’sFederalGrantsPolicy. (April14,2023)

Attendeesfullyengagedduringthetrainingsession, activelylisteningandabsorbingalltheinformation. (April14,2023)

EEOC & NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY TRAINING

In furtherance of its commitment to upholding equal employment opportunities, the Office of General Counsel conducted a mandatory training on the Judiciary's Equal Employment Opportunity (“EEO”) Policy on May 12, 2023. Held in the Assembly Hall at Guma' Hustisia, the training catered to all Judiciary employees, with virtual participation options via MS Teams available for Kotten Tinian, Centron Hustisia, and those unable to attend in person. The training was offered through the following sessions:

Session I (10:00 a.m.) - Conducted by General Counsel Hyun Jae Lee

Session II (3:00 p.m.) - Conducted by Deputy General Counsel/EEO Officer Matthew J. Brown

The comprehensive training encompassed a range of learning objectives, including a thorough exploration of the following:

EEO Policy; 1. Applicable Laws 2.

Title VII of Civil Rights of 1964; a. Equal Pay Act of 1964; b. Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act; c. Americans Disabilities Act; d. Age Discrimination Act of 1975; and e. The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act); and f. The Judiciary's EEO procedures. 3.

GeneralCounselHyunJaeLeeandJudiciarystaff gatherforagroupphotoasSessionIconcludes. (May12,2023)

concludes.(May12,2023)

LANGUAGE ACCESS PROGRAM POLICY (LAPP) TRAINING

Language Access Policy and Plan Training

Newly hired Judiciary personnel participated in a Language Access Policy and Plan training facilitated by Deputy General Counsel Matthew J. Brown in June and October 2023. Attendance for new employees is mandatory and offered to seasoned staff as a refresher. The training covered a variety of topics, such as: Why you need to know about language access laws, how to identify a Limited English Proficient ("LEP") Person, how you service a LEP person, and how you can work more effectively with interpreters.

Court Interpreters Training

On August 10, 2023, General Counsel Hyun Jae Lee and Director of Courts Sonia A. Camacho presented the Language Access Policy and Plan (LAPP) Interpreters Training at the Guma’ Hustisia Assembly Hall. The training focused on the essentials in interpreting, ethics, courtroom etiquette and opportunities available at the court. Participants included already-qualified court interpreters receiving refresher training and new interpreters eligible for registration as a qualified court interpreter. Sixteen multilingual participants attended the full training, including speakers of Chamorro, Carolinian, Palauan, Chinese (Mandarin), Korean, Tagalog, Russian, and Bengali languages. Two court staff participated in the training. Upon completion of the training, the interpreters receive a certification.

Language Access Policy and Plan Training

On October 20, 2023 a total of ten new Judiciary employees attended a LAPP training conducted by Deputy General Counsel Matthew J. Brown at the Guma' Hustisia Assembly Hall. The training covered the same topics as the LAPP training conducted on June 9, 2023.

NOAA GRANTS WRITING WORKSHOP

On August 21 and 22, the Judiciary participated in the "How to Apply for Federal Grants" training, which was sponsored and conducted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and held at the American Memorial Park Theater. The training focused on the initial phase of the grant process, emphasizing the following key areas:

Understanding the grant process

Finding Grant Opportunities

Understanding the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

Developing a great proposal

Meeting application requirements and criteria

Learning how applications/proposals are reviewed and evaluated

The following Judiciary personnel attended the training:

Bryan S. Bocago - Special Projects and Infrastructure Coordinator

Vincent P. Camacho - ARPA Information Support Assistant

Josephine N. Estrada - Judicial Assistant

Kristine D. Laurio - ARPA Information Support Assistant

Kimberly R. Sosa - Program Specialist

Martha M. Standish - ARPA Administrator

Novelyn Wania-Tenorio - Deputy Clerk III

Judiciary personnel with NOAA personnel/training facilitators: Victoria Dodd (2nd from left) and Hideyo Hattori (3rd from left) from the Pacific Island Regional Office, and Jim Foley (far right) from the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center. (August 21, 2023)

LAPP training attendees with training facilitator Deputy General Counsel Matthew J. Brown (5th from left). (June 09, 2023)

LAPP training attendees with training facilitator Deputy General Counsel Matthew J. Brown (center). (October 20, 2023)

General Counsel Hyun Jae Lee (standing) facilitating the LAPP training for court interpreters. (August 10, 2023)

COURT FORMS REDESIGN PROJECT: WINTER FORMS CAMP

The Court Forms Redesign Project is an ongoing project to revise existing Judiciary court form in plain language and easy to understand format. Paralegal Mary Bernadette (Mabby) Glass has been tasked to take the lead on this project under the supervision of Justice John A. Mangloña, the overall project leader.

As part of this project, the NMI Judiciary along with 5 other Jurisdictions representing Maine, Iowa, Indiana - Delaware County, Minnesota, and Rhode Island, were given the opportunity to participate in the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) Winter Forms Camp. The Winter Forms Camp, consisted of four plenary sessions:

January 4, 2023: Project Kickoff

January 31, 2023: User Testing Training

March 15, 2023: Group Presentations

March 29, 2023: Project Closing and Next Steps

In addition, the camp offered three individual working sessions:

January 20, 2023: Working Session 1

February 8, 2023: Working Session 2

March 1, 2023: Working Session 3

During the camp, the NMI Judiciary were assigned homework to complete outside of the meeting time. The homework assignments focused on plain language and design.

During the working sessions, the Winter Forms Camp Committee, which included Paralegal Mabby Glass, Law Clerk Keith Ketola, Deputy Clerk III Novelyn A. Wania-Tenorio, and Deputy Clerk I Brandon H. Delos Reyes, worked closely with NCSC Senior Court Management Consultant Lonni Summers in revisiting the existing small claims court forms.

TheWinterFormsCampCommitteelistenstoNCSCSeniorCourtManagementConsultant SummershighlightinghowtheexistingJudiciarysmallclaimscourtformscanbe improvisedduringWorkingSession2.(February8,2023)

Throughout the camp, the Committee worked tediously to create, simplify, and revamp 8 small claims court forms, which include: Small Claims Lawsuit; 1. Notice of Small Claims Lawsuit - Summons to Appear; 2. Defendant’s Answer to Small Claims Lawsuit; 3. Proof of Delivery of Court Papers; 4. Request for a Court’s Order to Show Cause; 5. Request to Dismiss Small Claims Lawsuit; 6. Request for the Court to Grant Default Judgment; and 7. Court’s Judgment 8.

These court forms were user tested on February 24, 2023. The purpose of the user testing (UT) session was to test whether the new forms that the committee worked on are user-friendly for individuals who want to sue and who are sued in small claims court. During the UT session, facilitators Keith H. Ketola and Mabby Glass provided the new court forms to 3 UT participants to fill out. The UT participants were given the option to fill out the court forms electronically or manually. Once the participants filled out the forms, they were then asked to complete an evaluation form for their feedback. One of the UT participants commended the redesigned Defendant’s Answer to Small Claims Lawsuit for being easier to follow through compared to the current existing court form.

In addition to completing the last working session, the Winter Forms Camp Committee also prepared a group presentation, which was presented to the NCSC Winter Forms Coordinators and the other 5 State Court teams on March 15, 2023.

Each State Courts team were given 10-12 minutes to present on before and after court forms, user testing - recruitment, location, scenario, feedback, etc., and lessons learning during the camp.

The NCSC has successfully wrapped up the camp on March 31, 2023. Overall, the camp was a great learning opportunity for all 6 State Courts team to be a part of.

Fromleft:DeputyClerkIBrandonH.DelosReyes,LawClerkKeithKetola,NCSCSenior CourtManagementConsultantLonniSummers(viaZoom),DeputyClerkIIINovelynA. Wania-Tenorio,andParalegalMabbyGlassmeetforWinterFormsCampWorking Session1.(January20,2023)

TYPHOON MAWAR

Due to the anticipated threat of Typhoon Mawar, Governor Arnold I. Palacios declared Typhoon Condition II for Rota and Tropical Storm Condition for Saipan and Tinian. The Judiciary’s Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) was activated and all managers were instructed to confirm staff scheduling for critical functions and maintain COOP kits ready for use. Rota Centron Hustisia was closed to the public on May 22, 2023, while the Guma’ Hustisia and Kotten Tinian followed suit on May 23, 2023.

On May 25, 2023, the Judiciary issued an internal memo regarding Business Hours and Post-Typhoon Mawar Operations. Due to the impact of Typhoon Mawar, Rota Centron Hustisia remained closed and personnel were activated for typhoon recovery efforts and other disaster mitigation steps. Saipan and Tinian received the “All Clear,” and the Guma’ Hustisia and Kotten Tinian resumed regular business hours on May 26, 2023. Rota Centron Hustisia reopened for regular business hours at 12:30 p.m. on May 31, 2023, via Supreme Court Order No. 2023-ADM-0014-MSC.

TYPHOON BOLAVEN

In response to the imminent threat posed by Typhoon Bolaven, Governor Arnold I. Palacios officially declared Typhoon Condition I for Saipan, Tinian, and Rota at 5:00 a.m. on October 10, 2023.

Acknowledging the severity of the situation, the Supreme Court ordered the closure of all Judiciary facilities on Tuesday, October 10, 2023, as a precautionary response to the impending Tropical Storm Bolaven. On Wednesday, October 11, 2023, the Supreme Court extended the closure of Judiciary facilities for the day, aligning with Typhoon Bolaven's anticipated final course through the region.

Regular business hours for all Judiciary facilities resumed on Thursday, October 12, 2023, as communicated pursuant to Supreme Court Order No. 2023-ADM-0017-MSC.

On October 9, 2023, responding to the pressing situation, U.S. President Joseph Biden approved the NMI’s request for an Emergency Declaration. This authorization allows federal assistance to effectively coordinate and support all disaster relief efforts in the region.

Supreme

The ARPA office safeguards its technological equipment as a precautionary measure in anticipation of the approaching storm. (October 11, 2023)

ARPA Scanning Clerk Micca B. King’s office space and equipment post typhoon. (October 12, 2023)

Supreme Court No. 2023-ADM-0012-MSC

Rota Centron Hustisia entrance blocked by tree in the aftermath of Typhoon Mawar. (May 25, 2023)

Aftermath of Typhoon Mawar. (May 25, 2023)

Post Typhoon clean up around the Rota Centron Hustisia courthouse. (May 30, 2023)

Hustisia Para Todo