Marissa Flores
REPRESENTATIVE Marissa Flores has pre-filed House Bill 23-114, which would repeal the Justice Center Fund Revolving Account.
The bill will be formally introduced during a House session on Thursday, Aug. 8, that starts at 10 a.m.
The bill’s co-sponsors are Reps. Roman C. Benavente, Angelo A. Camacho, Manny Castro, Joseph A. Flores, Thomas J. Manglona, Julie M.A. Ogo, Malcolm J. Omar, John Paul P. Sablan, Patrick H. San Nicolas, Denita Kaipat Yangetmai, and Speaker Edmund S. Villagomez.
According to the bill’s findings, “Keeping the original purpose of the Justice Center Fund in mind is significant in these trying economic times. In particular, the Legislature notes that over 30 years have passed since the passage of Public Law 7-25. Now, in 2024, the Justice Center is fully constructed, and financial resources are very limited.”
The bill noted that “1 CMC 3405 provides that all criminal and civil fines and all revenues collected by the courts of the Commonwealth in accordance with 1 CMC 3403, together with all fines and fees collected pursuant to any other law, including 7 CMC 3206 and 7 CMC 3251, shall be deposited and credited to the Justice Center Fund Revolving Account.”
The purpose and sole use of the specified revolving account is to pay the principal, interest, expenses, and establish reserves associated with a USDA Rural Development loan.
“Now is the appropriate time for the Legislature, based on the aforementioned loan having been paid in full, to repeal the JCFRA,” the bill stated.
“Justice demands that the true spirit of the original law that created the judicial building fund [should] be followed. In repealing Title 1 section 3405, the Legislature intends for the funds collected to be deposited into the General Fund. Much needed revenue shall then be deposited into this General Fund where it can be appropriated by the Legislature for the benefit of the entire Commonwealth,” the bill stated.
Variety was unable to get a comment from the CNMI judiciary.
Rep. Marissa Flores is the chair of the House Committee on the Judiciary and Governmental Operations.
In Sept. 2023, CNMI Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexandro C. Castro denied her request to include the chairs of the House Judiciary and Governmental Operations Committee and the Senate Judiciary, Government and Law Committee as members of the Judicial Council.
The chief justice said the council “respectfully denies” her request in order to maintain the integrity and independence of each branch of government.
Recently, she questioned the decision of Superior Court Judge Pro Tempore Arthur Barcinas to disqualify the Office of the Attorney General from prosecuting former Gov. Ralph DLG Torres due to a conflict of interest.
She said the decision raised “pressing questions about the transparency and integrity of our legal system.”
