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H.R. 10443House118th Congress (2023-2025)In Committee

Article III Judicial Independence Act of 2024

Sponsored by Gregorio Kilili Camacho SablanRep. Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (D-MP)
Introduced December 17, 2024

AI-Generated Summary

Updated January 20, 2026 at 8:28 PM UTC

The bill amends Title 28 of the U.S. Code to create a United States district court for the Northern Mariana Islands, designating Saipan as the court location. It converts the existing territorial District Court into an Article III court, allowing the current judge to continue serving with lifetime tenure. The changes affect the judicial structure and statutory references for the Northern Mariana Islands.

Key Provisions

  • Adds a new Section 114a establishing the Northern Mariana Islands as a separate judicial district with the court held in Saipan.
  • Converts the facilities and property of the existing territorial District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands to be used by the new Article III district court.
  • Deems the current territorial judge to be the Article III judge for the new district, granting tenure during good behavior (lifetime appointment).
  • Repeals the 1977 act that created the territorial court and removes references to the territorial court in Section 373 of Title 28.
  • Specifies that the amendment does not affect the salary or tenure rights of any judge already in office at enactment.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action
HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

December 17, 2024

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

December 17, 2024

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

December 17, 2024

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued December 17, 2024

I

118th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 10443

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

December 17, 2024

Mr. Sablan introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To amend title 28, to provide for a district court for the district of the Northern Mariana Islands.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Article III Judicial Independence Act of 2024.

2.

New judicial district

(a)

In general

Chapter 5 of title 28, United States Code is amended by inserting after section 114 the following:

114a.

Northern Mariana Islands

The Northern Mariana Islands constitutes one judicial district. Court shall be held at Saipan.

.

(b)

Clerical amendment

The table of sections for such chapter is amended by inserting after the item pertaining to section 114 the following:

114a. Northern Mariana Islands.

.

3.

Conversion of existing court and judge

(a)

Court

For purposes of establishing the district court under section 114a of title 28, United States Code, the facilities and property of the District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands under section 1 of the Act of November 8, 1977 (48 U.S.C. 1821) shall be converted to the use of the court under such section 114a.

(b)

Judge

The judge for the District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands under section 1 of the Act of November 8, 1977 (48 U.S.C. 1821), as of the date of enactment of this Act shall be deemed to have been appointed as the judge for the district court for the Northern Mariana Islands under section 114a of title 28, United States Code. Such judge shall hold office during good behavior, pursuant to section 134 of title 28, United States Code.

(c)

Repeal

Section 1 of the Act of November 8, 1977 (48 U.S.C. 1821) is repealed.

4.

Judges in territories and possessions

Section 373 of title 28, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

in subsection (a), by striking , the District Court of the Northern Mariana Islands,; and

(2)

in subsection (e), by striking , the District Court of the Northern Mariana Islands,.

5.

Applicability

The amendments made by this Act shall not affect the tenure of office or right to continue to receive salary after resignation, retirement, or failure of reappointment of any district judge for the district of the Northern Mariana Islands who is in office on the date of enactment of this Act.