From $5,562,398, which represents the judiciary’s total personnel and other expenses, the governor’s version scaled down the amount to $2,972,847.
Under the governor’s proposal, the legislative branch will get $4,219,553 while the executive branch will receive $7,109, 304.
“The CNMI judiciary has accelerated efforts to strengthen its roles as an independent third branch,” Chief Justice Miguel S. Demapan and acting Presiding Judge David A. Wiseman wrote the 17th Legislature in connection with its budget request for the judiciary for 2011.
“The NMI judiciary continues to meet its obligations to be a good partner in government during the ongoing fiscal crisis afflicting the CNMI government,” they said.
“However, there must be a clear understanding about the absolute necessity and importance of providing the court with adequate funding and the flexibility to determine how best to reduce operating expenses without jeopardizing our constitutionally mandated duties,” they added.
“Under our constitutional system, the judiciary is responsible for upholding the rule of law upon which all our society’s social and economic relationships are based.”
The chief justice and the governor have also clashed in the past over the judiciary’s budget.
For Gov. Benigno R. Fitial’s second inauguration last January, it was Associate Justice Alexandro C. Castro who swore him in, and not the chief justice.
