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Judiciary mulling hikes in fees, fines
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Posted on Mar 01 2006
The CNMI Judiciary is mulling a possible increase in legal fees and fines to raise more revenues for the courts.
The Supreme Court and the Superior Court have come up with a joint list of measures it planned to implement to reduce court expenditures and increase court revenues.
Acting Chief Justice Alexandro C. Castro and Presiding Judge Robert C. Naraja said in a joint letter to special assistant for management Antonio Muna that the courts were looking at increasing fees and fines to help mitigate the government’s current budget shortfall.
The fee increase is also seen as a possible means for the courts to meet the $118,245 monthly payment to the Retirement Fund without causing a burden to the administration.
The courts still owe the Fund approximately $10 million for the construction of the courthouse.
Castro and Naraja reported efforts to identify outstanding judgments and restitutions in favor of the Commonwealth and to bring them to the attention of the Attorney General’s Office.
The courts are also examining existing laws regarding offenses that do not involve injury to persons or property in an effort to remove unnecessary jail terms. “This will reduce the burden of providing free legal services for very minor offenses,” Castro and Naraja.
Furthermore, the judicial branch will propose alternative ways that disputes within the CNMI government could be resolved. This, the magistrates said, would help the government avoid the excessive cost of litigation and facilitate more efficient outcomes.
“These are examples of how the Judiciary can contribute to mitigating the current budget shortfall. Of course, we will need the assistance and support of both the Executive and Legislative branches for the implementation of these measures,” Castro and Naraja said.
The Office of Management and Budget had recommended an 18.78 percent budget reduction for the Judiciary.
But the courts said they could only offer to make a 7.08-percent on their costs.
