Judicial College eyes NMI as regional training center

With its modern court facilities and well-trained judges and justices, Saipan may soon become the site of a regional training center for the judiciary.

Two representatives from the National Judicial College, Peggy Vidal, international manager, and Wyoming Judge Michael Lamp were sent here by the Ninth Circuit Court for an exploratory visit last week.

“You have a very impressive court house, you have the technical expertise and well trained judges and justices,” said Ms. Vidal.

Based in Reno, Nevada, the Judicial College trains 3,000 judges all over the world every year for the past 37 years including Russia and Eastern Europe. It has also conducted a lot of training for native American trial court judges and court personnel.

Every year, judges and justices from Saipan travel to Reno for training but not all court personnel such as court clerk, probation officers, and marshals are sent there due to limited funds.

After their visit to Saipan and Palau, Ms. Vidal and Judge Lamp will meet with the representatives of the Ninth Circuit Court to discuss their findings and begin working on developing a five-year plan.

If Saipan is finally chosen, the court personnel aside from the judges and justices in Micronesia, Palau and Guam will be traveling here for regular training, Ms. Vidal said.

The Judicial College may send two to three people To Saipan to handle the training on various administrative programs and court management technology. “We are not only here to decide what is good for you but for you to decide what you really need,” she said.

Ms. Vidal said a trainor’s training program will also be conducted so that the island can develop its own specialists. “We can train the local people, provide the service and create a high professional core of faculty of local people so that all of the islands can benefit from it,” she added.

Supreme Court Chief Justice Miguel Demapan said he is very happy that the Judicial College is considering Saipan as the site for the regional training center because this will not only become a big help for Saipan but the neighboring islands as well.

Supreme Court Associate Justice John A. Manglona said the Judicial College may also organize a judiciary media seminar to help journalists on the island understand the work of the judicial system.