CNMI Judiciary turns 35

It’s a super Friday for the CNMI Judiciary. Today, they marked their 35th anniversary, Law Week, and Treatment Court Month.

The Northern Marianas Judiciary marked a major milestone with the wheels of justice moving towards the future. Justice John Manglona with the CNMI Supreme Court told KUAM CNMI, "The judiciary of today is not the same as the judiciary of 1989. We’ve actively engaged, no longer silent observers waiting for cases to come to the courthouse. We are reaching out to the public."

The proclamation ceremony was described as a super Friday, combining the celebration of the anniversary, Law Week, and Treatment Court Month.

CNMI Governor Arnold Palacios said, "Our judiciary has evolved to begin to serve the greater needs, the evolving needs of our community, case in point is the drug court, case in point is the Mental Health Court that was just recently established and the outreach that it continues and continues to expand its role to help members of our community."

This year’s Law Day theme is "Voices of Democracy", focused on deepening the understanding of the electoral process, discussing issues in honest and civil ways, turning out to vote, and helping to move the country forward after free and fair elections.

The courts echoed that message loud and clear.

"The judiciary is open to everyone, ready to provide justice and support to all. And so that's the new face of the judiciary, modern and forward-thinking," Manglona said.