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Judiciary might only get half of $7.7M budget request
The NMI Judiciary might get only half of its proposed $7.7 million budget for fiscal year 2016, but it is amenable to “meet halfway” with lawmakers for more allocation.
Members of the Judiciary were at the House chamber on Capital Hill on Thursday for a budget hearing.
Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexandro Castro said he does not expect to get the full amount.
The Judiciary’s proposed budget of $7.7 million is more than double Gov. Eloy S. Inos’ proposed allocation of about $3 million.
“Yes, the budget proposal from the government is $3 million lower than what we are asking,” Castro said, adding that the Judiciary would welcome a $1.5-million addition to the government’s proposal.
“If our lawmakers can meet us halfway and give us an additional $1.5 million, then we can keep our heads above water,” Castro said.
He earlier emphasized the need for more capital to be used for infrastructure repairs and hire more personnel. Castro said courthouses on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota badly need repairs.
For Superior Court Presiding Judge Robert Naraja, the Judiciary would just have “to work on that,” referring to the possible additional budget.
“We do have a lot of things we want to do to improve the Judiciary system,” Naraja said, mentioning that one project the Judiciary will be looking at is a “problem solving court.”
He said these specialty courts will address specific social issues, including gambling, and a drug court.
“The drug court has been on our table for a long time,” Naraja said, adding that these specialty courts will be established to “anticipate” issues that may arise in the CNMI.
“Key to all these are the probation officers,” Naraja said, adding that these personnel will be tasked to man the specialty courts. “We have the judges, all we need are the probation officers, then perhaps we can tap community workers.”
According to Rep. Antonio P. Sablan (R-Saipan), chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, lawmakers will look at where to find the additional $1.5 million for the Judiciary.
