Roberto C. Naraja
SUPERIOR Court Presiding Judge Roberto C. Naraja has disqualified himself from handling Attorney General Edward Manibusan’s lawsuit against the Tinian stablecoin law.
In his order of self-recusal on Monday, Naraja stated that his impartiality might be questioned due to his previous relationship with the Tinian Casino Gaming Control Commission, a former client of his.
The case has been reassigned to Judge Kenneth L. Govendo.
Last week, Judge Lillian A. Tenorio disqualified herself from the case, citing 1 CMC § 3308(a), which mandates that a judge must recuse themselves from any proceeding where their impartiality might reasonably be questioned.
Tenorio served as the CNMI deputy attorney general from January 31, 2015, to February 19, 2024, under Attorney General Manibusan, before becoming a judge in 2024.
Manibusan has asked the Superior Court to declare Tinian Local Law 24-03 unconstitutional. The law authorizes internet gambling on Tinian and the issuance of a digital currency known as the “Tinian Stable Token,” later rebranded as “Marianas U.S. Dollar.”
The AG is seeking injunctive relief to prevent the enforcement of the law and has named as defendants the Tinian Casino Gaming Control Commission, Tinian Municipal Treasurer Maria Barbara Borja, and Marianas Rai Corporation, which was chosen by Tinian as an exclusive provider of software and services for the issuance and redemption of the Marianas U.S. Dollar.
Gov. Arnold I. Palacios disapproved Senate Local Bill 24-1 based on the AG’s legal opinion, but both houses of the Legislature overrode his veto.
According to the AG, the Tinian local law exceeds the legislative authority of the Tinian and Aguiguan Legislative Delegation by regulating activities beyond the geographical scope of the Second Senatorial District.
The AG said the rebranding of the token to Marianas USD suggests that the law impacts areas beyond the Second Senatorial District, potentially harming the legal integrity of Commonwealth-wide legislative authority and affecting the economic landscape through internet gaming and digital currency transactions.
