District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands

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The District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands is a United States territorial court whose jurisdiction comprises the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. It was established by Act of Congress in 1977 and began hearing cases in January 1978. The court regularly sits in Saipan, but may sit elsewhere in the CNMI. The District Court has the same jurisdiction as United States district courts, including diversity jurisdiction and bankruptcy jurisdiction; however, the District Court is technically not a true U.S. district court since its jurisdiction is not a United States federal judicial district. Appeals are taken to the Ninth Circuit.

Like most federal judges, judges in this court are appointed by the President, subject to Senate approval. However, unlike Article III judges, who receive lifetime tenure under the United States Constitution, judges in this court are appointed to 10-year terms or until a successor is chosen and qualified. (Judges may serve more than one term, subject to the standard nominating process.)

The United States is represented in civil and criminal litigation in the court by the United States Attorney's Office for the District of the Northern Mariana Islands.

The first District Judge appointed was the Honorable Alfred Laureta, who served from 1978 until 1988. His successor, the Honorable Alex R. Munson, was nominated by President Ronald Reagan, and confirmed by the Senate in 1988. Judge Munson was nominated for a second ten-year term by President William J. Clinton and was confirmed by the Senate in 1998.

The District Court's local rules specifically require lawyers to wear shoes to court.^[1]

For further information about the District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands, please refer to 48 U.S.C. § 1821 et seq.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands Official Website

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