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CNMI loses one chief justice, wins 2
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Posted on Dec 08 1998
Supreme Court Associate Justices Alexandro C. Castro and Miguel S. Demapan have reached an agreement to act as acting chief justices until Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio appoints and the Senate confirms one.
They entered an agreement after they could not settle on who is the more senior associate justice between themselves.
The question on seniority arose from the fact that Demapan was confirmed by the Senate ahead of Castro who incidentally took the oath of office ahead of Demapan.
“In the interests of justice, unity, harmony and the continuity of judicial matters in the Northern Mariana Islands, these two justices hereby agree and stipulate to act as Acting Chief Justices and will jointly execute and carry out the functions, duties, and responsibilities of the Office of Chief Justice pending the
installation of the next Chief Justice,” according to the agreement they signed Friday.
Fomer chief justice Marty Taylor retired on Dec. 5.
There is yet no clear signal from the governor that a new appointment for a chief justice is in the works.
Rumors had it that the governor might delay his nomination to allow the government to save from the high salary that goes with the chief justice post.
The governor allegedly is of the belief that judicial operations would not be hampered by the lack of a permanent chief justice because the U.S. Constitution allows the acting chief justice to appoint any judges in any U.S. territory to serve as pro tem judges.
