(Press Release) — March 24, 2026 marked the 50th anniversary since President Gerald R. Ford signed into law the Covenant to Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with the United States. To commemorate this historic day, members of the bench engaged in public outreach events that explored the Covenant’s continuing significance. Justice John A. Manglona and Judge Lillian Ada Tenorio both participated in a panel discussion alongside District Court Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona, CNMI founding father Pedro A. Tenorio, and current Section 902 representative Clement “CJ” Bermudes Jr.
NMI Bar Association President Gretchen A. Smith moderated a wide-ranging discussion on the context in which the Covenant was signed, its present-day implications, and what might change in the future. The panelists talked about several cases by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals involving land alienation under NMI Constitution Article XII, the right to vote, and the Covenant’s specific provision for Supplemental Security Income benefits. They also discussed the formation of both the local and federal court systems, as well as recent Section 902 consultations with the federal government.
“We had an invaluable opportunity to discuss some very alive legal issues with their historical context, and I hope the audience found it as enriching as the panelists did,” Justice Manglona said. “It was a wonderful opportunity to share recollections, evaluate our original dreams against the past fifty years of experience, and imagine what passing the torch to future generations will entail.”
The panel discussion was sponsored by the NMI Humanities Council and the CNMI America 250 Commission. Other events included a preview screening of the documentary “Fifty Years of the Covenant: Promise, Progress, and Perspective,” a Commonwealth Jubilee Trivia Night, and an exhibit at the Crowne Plaza Art Room which included the original Covenant document available for viewing. The Humanities Council’s upcoming podcast series on the Covenant, set to begin in April, will also feature Justice Manglona and Judge Tenorio as participating speakers.
