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About the Courts
The present Commonwealth Judiciary developed over several distinct phases. In the
early years of the Commonwealth (beginning in 1978), a Commonwealth Trial Court
was created by the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Constitution. It
was strictly a trial court of limited jurisdiction. Appeals from this court were
taken to U.S. District Court for the N.M.I. having an appellate arm. In 1985, the
Commonwealth Trial Court became a trial court of general jurisdiction. In 1989,
the CNMI Legislature created the Commonwealth Supreme Court to hear appeals from
the Commonwealth Superior Court (the new name of the Commonwealth Trial Court).
In 1997, the Commonwealth Supreme Court and Superior Court became constitutional
courts. In cases involving federal issues, a further appeal may be heard by the
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, as a “mini” Supreme Court. Beginning
May 2004, decisions of the Commonwealth Supreme Court could only be reviewed by
the U.S. Supreme Court. During each transition phase, the Commonwealth Judiciary
experienced much growth as it continues to carry out its function as an independent
and co-equal branch of the CNMI government.
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