Judge denies bid to sequester ballots

Posted on Oct 28 2014

Tag: Article 12, initiative, lawsuit, Northern Marianas descent

U. S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona has denied the Commonwealth Election Commission’s and Gov. Eloy S. Inos’ motion to delay the tabulation and certification of votes cast for the Article 12 initiative and sequester the ballots pending the disposition of their appeal.

In a 14-page order issued late afternoon Monday, Manglona ruled that the harm to CEC and Inos is too speculative even to support an injunction to prohibit enforcement of House Legislative Initiative 18-1 in the event it passes.

Manglona said even if CEC’s appeal of the decision she issued last May 20 raised serious questions going to the merits, she would deny the relief the defendants have proposed.

In that May 20, 2014, landmark decision she issued in connection with a lawsuit filed by John H. Davis Jr., Manglona ruled that qualified voters who are not of Northern Marianas descent must have the opportunity to vote on Article 12 initiative or any other initiatives to amend Article 12.

More details to follow.

Ferdie De La Torre | Reporter

Ferdie Ponce de la Torre is a senior reporter of Saipan Tribune. He has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and has covered all news beats in the CNMI. He is a recipient of the CNMI Supreme Court Justice Award. Contact him at ferdie_delatorre@Saipantribune.com

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