United States District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands

The District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands is a federal court whose jurisdiction comprises the United States-affiliated Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). It was established by Act of Congress in 1977, pursuant to an international agreement between the United States and the CNMI that brought the CNMI under United States sovereignty. The court began hearing cases in January 1978. The court regularly sits in Saipan but may sit elsewhere in the CNMI. The 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 because its judge is appointed for a 10-year term instead of for a lifetime term. Appeals are taken to the Ninth Circuit.

Like most federal judges, judges in this court are appointed by the President, subject to Senate confirmation. 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.

For further information about the District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands, please refer to USCode|48|1821 "et seq."

References

External links

* [http://www.nmid.uscourts.gov/ District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands Official Website]