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Court management experts assist the CNMI’s Judiciary
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Posted on Nov 03 2008
The CNMI Judiciary met with federally-funded court management consultants last week as part of an ongoing process to upgrade court services, while, at the same time, improve its administrative efficiency.
After receiving a grant from the State Institute of Justice in 2007, the Judiciary has been regularly meeting with a team of consultants from the National Center for State Courts. In October 2007, Supreme Court justices, Superior Court judges, and other administrative leaders began working with NCSC consultants to develop a comprehensive plan for improving specific areas of the Judiciary.
During the last year, the Judiciary has worked to implement its plan. The Judiciary recently implemented computer software to assist them in managing the thousands of cases that are filed each year in CNMI courts. They also created guidelines for disposing of specific types of cases.
Last week, members of the Judiciary began creating and formalizing standard operating procedures. NCSC consultants John Douglas and Suzanne Tallarico spent four days in Saipan and one in Tinian meeting with key members of the Judiciary. During their trip, they gathered detailed information about the CNMI court system, observing and documenting its administrative protocol, while noting factors that should be addressed in creating the Judiciary’s standard operating procedures.
The NCSC hopes to work with the Judiciary to complete its standard operating procedures within three months, allowing the Judiciary to accomplish a major milestone in improving its efficiency and productivity.
“In light of the economic struggles throughout the Commonwealth, we find it imperative that our court system run as efficiently and effectively as possible,” Chief Justice Miguel S. Demapan said. “We’re confident that the time we spend with the NCSC consultants will help our courts better serve the community, as we upgrade our services while carrying out our responsibilities as judiciously as possible.”
The Judiciary’s decision to seek federal funding to improve its efficiency was exacerbated last year when its budget was reduced 18 percent. [B][I](PR)[/I][/B]
