She said the CNMI Superior Court will use the former federal courtrooms until the end of December. These include the first floor courtroom and the third floor courtrooms which used to be the grand jury courtroom.
On Friday, the CNMI judiciary stated that starting on Oct. 14, 2020 it will “activate temporary courtrooms” at the Horiguchi Building.
“As a new alternate site for the Superior Court, spaces on the first and third floors will be used for jury trials, bench trials, and hearings. This site is funded by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to mitigate the spread of Covid-19 by alleviating congestion at Marianas Business Plaza,” the judiciary announced in a statement.
“Presiding Judge Roberto C. Naraja and Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho will preside over matters at the Horiguchi Building unless otherwise noted in the general or weekly calendar. Generally, Associate Judges Kenneth L. Govendo, Teresa Kim-Tenorio, and Wesley M. Bogdan will preside over cases at the Marianas Business Plaza or the Guma’ Hustisia unless otherwise noted in the general or weekly calendar,” the judiciary stated.
“With the activation of this new alternate site, the CNMI Superior Court will now hold court hearings at three locations: (1) Marianas Business Plaza; (2) Guma’ Hustisia; and (3) Horiguchi Building. A copy of the Superior Court’s weekly calendar is available at the judiciary’s website at nmijudiciary.com”
According to the judiciary, the Horiguchi Building “joins the long list of alternative sites as the judiciary continues to provide access to justice in the midst of Covid-19 pandemic and court re-opening projects. Other sites are the Marianas Business Plaza in Susupe, Drug Court in Chalan Kanoa, Office of Adult Probation Supervision satellite office in Susupe, and the Law Revision Commission in Susupe.”
In March 2018, the judiciary’s Guma’ Hustisia building was shut down due to air-conditioning and mold problems. Replacing the air-conditioning system and mold remediation will cost $7 million, the judiciary stated.
