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Legislature wants quick court reply
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Posted on Mar 24 1999
The legislature will seek to shorten issuance of written opinions by both the Supreme Court and Superior Court from one year down to 90 days under a proposed legislation that will also penalize judges for failure to meet the time restriction
House Majority Floor leader Ana S. Teregeyo has filed a legislation stemming from mounting complaints over the length of period allowed to the courts in providing opinions on cases considered crucial in the litigation process.
She said that the courts must respond “in a timely manner to issues pending” before them, adding the initial one-year period is “simply too long for a matter to rest with the court under advisement.”
The bill will reduce the judicial review period to 90 days for an opinion coming from the Superior Court and 180 days for those from the Supreme Court.
Failure to comply with the new requirement will force the Department of Finance to withhold payment of salary to any judge or justice who is found to be remiss in his duty, according to Teregeyo’s amendment to the Commonwealth Code.
The measure came on the heels of a controversy drawn by a petition from the Department of Labor and Immigration seeking Supreme Court opinion on a lower court decision allowing a voluntary departure of two illegal aliens who are allegedly using their U.S.-born children as shield against a deportation order.
The Supreme Court has put the case under advisement despite appeals from DOLI officials and some members of the legislature to expedite ruling on their petition.
