Patrick V. Diaz (center) with Clerk of Superior Court staff at the Judiciary Professional Development Summit in November 2025. Saipan, CNMI – The NMI Superior Court honors the contributions of Clerk of the Superior Court Patrick V. Diaz as he resigns and moves into the next stage of his professional life.   Patrick V. Diaz (center, top) with Chief Justice Alexandro C. Castro (to his left) and Presiding Judge Roberto C. Naraja (to his right), along with Clerk of Superior Cour

Lisa Phair (back row, 2nd from left) at the 2022 Judiciary Pre-Law graduation. Saipan, CNMI – Lisa Phair graduated from Syracuse University College of Law in August 2025 with a Juris Doctor through its ABA-approved JDinteractive program, which combines real-time, live online class sessions with self-paced instruction, short on-campus courses, and experiential learning opportunities.  During her time in the program, she participated in global learning opportunities in Washing

Saipan, CNMI – The Supreme Court denied the Attorney General’s petition for a writ of mandamus. The Attorney General, on behalf of the Commonwealth, had been prosecuting Willie Carnell Frink for an alleged sexual assault. After the finding of probable cause against Frink, the trial court quashed the warrant originally used to arrest Frink and required a new arrest warrant. Additionally, the trial court ordered the Commonwealth to personally serve the order finding probable c

Saipan, CNMI – The Supreme Court issued its opinion in Macaranas v. Macaranas , reversing the trial court’s finding of criminal contempt due to a violation of the defendant’s constitutional due process right to counsel. The charge of contempt arose from a violation of an order of protection.     The trial court held Guy Macaranas in criminal contempt after he failed to make child support payments, made contact with Nao Macaranas outside the scope allowed by the order of pro

Saipan, CNMI – The Supreme Court issued its opinion in Shon v. Choo , reversing the Superior Court’s decision to bar a quiet title action on the basis of laches, a doctrine which prevents a plaintiff from bringing suit after too much time has passed. The case concerns a disputed transfer of leasehold property in As Matuis, Saipan, that occurred after forged documents conveyed the leasehold without the leaseholder’s knowledge.   The Superior Court found that although the trans

On December 22, 2025, the Supreme Court issued AMENDED Administrative Order No. 2025-ADM-0017-MSC, which closed Judiciary facilities on Wednesday, December 24, 2025, Friday, December 26, 2025, and Friday, January 2, 2026. E-filing portals (File and ServeXpress, eRecording, and eCourt) will remain open during the holidays. Bail, family protection, emergency, and time-sensitive matters may be set consistent with applicable rules. Judiciary personnel may be activated for emergen

Saipan, CNMI – It is with great sadness that we learned of the passing of former Chief Judge Alex R. Munson of the District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands. Judge Munson dedicated more than four decades of judicial service to the people of the Northern Mariana Islands and the broader Micronesian region. “Chief Judge Munson served the people of the Marianas with fairness, respect, and deep humanity,” said Chief Justice Alexandro C. Castro. “He brought a steady hand to e

Saipan, CNMI – The Supreme Court will host the annual High School Moot Court Competition on December 4–5, 2025, at the Guma’ Hustisia on Saipan.   This year, over fifteen teams prepared written briefs on a mock First Amendment case exploring the scope of student free speech rights. Acting as attorneys, the students will present their arguments before volunteer justices in simulated appellate proceedings. The competition schedule is: Preliminary Rounds  – 8 :30 am - 4 pm., Thu

Saipan, CNMI – The CNMI Superior Court is pleased to announce the swearing-in of four new judicial staff members: Sage Wagner, Alexandria Vazquez, Kate Rues, and Marlisa Marquez. The ceremony took place on November 19, 2025, in Superior Court Courtroom 205A, where each staff member took an oath of office.    (From left) Law Clerk Alexandria Vazquez, Law Clerk Kate Rues, Associate Judge Kenneth L. Govendo, Law Clerk Sage Wagner, Special Assistant to the Presiding Judge Marlisa

Saipan, CNMI – On November 20, 2025, the Supreme Court issued an opinion in Tang v. Guo  affirming the Superior Court’s findings of parol evidence regarding fraud, calculation of post-judgment interest and conditioning the return of certain leasehold properties on satisfaction of the judgment. The Court, however, reversed the Superior Court’s calculation of unjust enrichment damages and remanded for further proceedings. The dispute arose from a purported assignment of two lea

On November 14, 2025, the Supreme Court issued Administrative Order No. 2025-ADM0012-MSC, outlining the Judiciary's closure on the following days in November 2025: November 24, 2025 (Monday) Annual Judiciary Professional Development Conference November 25, 2025 (Tuesday) Annual Judiciary Professional Development Conference November 27, 2025 (Thursday) Thanksgiving Day E-filing portals (File and ServeXpress and eRecording) will remain open during the holidays. Bail, family pr

Saipan, CNMI – The Supreme Court of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands today issued its opinion in Camacho v. Northern Mariana Islands Settlement Fund, Supreme Court No. 2024-SCC-0024-CQU, answering a certified question from the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. The Court held that section 8334(e) of the Northern Mariana Islands Retirement Fund Act of 1988 did not grant Class II members of the Retirement Fund a constitutionally protected accr

Students attending the Brief Writing Workshop given by Law Clerk Katherine Eckrote at the SSZ Conference Room, Guma’ Hustisia. (October 20, 2025) Saipan, CNMI – On October 21st, the Supreme Court held the second session in its three-part Moot Court workshop series, focusing on appellate brief writing. Now in its third year, the High School Moot Court program offers students a chance to role-play as appellate attorneys in a mock appeal of a fictional case, fostering a deeper u

Saipan, CNMI – The Northern Mariana Islands Judiciary is warning the public about a new scam being used in the United States in which callers pretend to be from the state judiciary’s supreme court clerk’s office. In recent months, people in the United States have reported receiving calls from individuals falsely claiming to represent the Clerk’s Office. To make the scheme appear legitimate, the caller “spoofs” the Judiciary’s official phone number so that it appears on caller

Saipan, CNMI – T he Supreme Court will be holding oral arguments at Saipan International School on October 28th at 10:30 a.m., as part of its community outreach efforts. The session will be presided over by Chief Justice Alexandro C. Castro, Justice John A. Manglona, and Justice Perry B. Inos, providing a rare opportunity for students to observe the judicial process in action. The case to be heard, In re Estate of Kapileo,  involves a Superior Court decision that Appellant Sa

Saipan, CNMI – On October 16th, the Supreme Court denied Appellant John Sablan Pangelinan’s motion to stay the mandate in Pangelinan v. Pangelinan. 2024 MP 5 for the purpose of reconsidering a denial of a petition for rehearing. The Supreme Court took the opportunity to clarify the standards for when invoking a discretionary motion for stay of mandate under NMI Supreme Court Rule 41(d)(1). Emphasizing that non-certiorari reasons for granting a stay of mandate are disfavored,

(From left) Justice John A. Manglona, Law Clerk Katrina Carney, Law Clerk Chandler Farquhar, Law Clerk Kate Eckrote, Chief Justice Alexandro C. Castro and Justice Perry B. Inos. Saipan, CNMI – —The Supreme Court is pleased to announce the swearing-in of three new law clerks: Katherine Eckrote, Katrina Carney, and Chandler Farquhar. The ceremony took place on October 14, 2025 in the Supreme Court courtroom, where each clerk took an oath of office. As law clerks, they will as

Saipan, CNMI – On October 14, 2025, the Supreme Court affirmed the Superior Court’s order granting Long Feng Corporation and Guo Wu Li’s Rule 41(b) motion to dismiss. The dismissal was based on the appellants’ failure to prosecute their case. The dispute began in March 2018, when DS Corporation and Dae Sun Eo filed a lawsuit seeking to evict Long Feng Corporation and Guo Wu Li from a commercial building. However, by December 2022, the case had stalled significantly. The trial

Saipan, CNMI – We deeply mourn the passing of Deputy Marshal III Jesus S. Santos, a dedicated and faithful member of the Judiciary family...

(L-R) STUCO President Lucia Andres B. Bercilla, Vice President Hannah T. Neyoaraen, Secretary Kaleia Carmen T. Arriola, Sergeant-at-Arms...