By Emmanuel T. Erediano
[email protected]
Variety News Staff
THE CNMI Judiciary last week submitted a $13.6 million budget proposal to the 24th Legislature.
In a joint letter to Senate President Karl King-Nabors and Speaker Edmund S. Villagomez on Wednesday, Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexandro C. Castro and Superior Court Presiding Judge Roberto C. Naraja said their request reflects the necessary funding to sustain optimal judicial services across Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.
In the revised FY 2026 budget, or Public Law 24-20, the Judiciary is budgeted $5,724,250.
This year, Castro and Naraja told lawmakers, one of the Judiciary’s primary priorities is obtaining funds to complete the Guma Hustisia fire alarm and sprinkler system upgrade. They said the Judiciary has operated under a provisional permit for almost a decade, making the safety upgrade critical.
“We have continued to pursue all available funding sources for this important project,” the chief justice and presiding judge said.
Additionally, they said the Judiciary continues to modernize its operations in line with national trends following the Covid-19 pandemic. These include the implementation of the eCourt case management system, eSupervision, ePayment of traffic citations, and the Commonwealth Recorder’s electronic recording platform.
While these advancements have improved efficiency and public access, they have also increased demands on data storage and system capacity. The Judiciary currently has an undersized server room, which is vulnerable to risks such as fire and water damage.
The Judiciary has invested in the design of a secure data center and initiated procurement, but the project lost its American Rescue Plan Act funding source. “We continue to seek funding to complete this essential infrastructure,” Castro and Naraja said.
They reiterated that the Judiciary’s budget reflects the resources necessary to carry out its constitutional responsibilities, even amid the CNMI’s fiscal constraints. “While we are mindful of the financial challenges facing the government, the requested funding is essential to sustaining operations and preserving access to justice,” they said.
Although their budget proposal addresses the most immediate needs, it does not fully encompass the resources needed to meet long-term objectives. Nevertheless, the Judiciary said it will continue to identify and pursue all viable avenues for funding to advance its priorities.
Emmanuel “Arnold” Erediano has a bachelor of science degree in Journalism. He started his career as police beat reporter. Loves to cook. Eats death threats for breakfast.
