District of Northern Mariana Islands

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IN BRIEF

Process summary

Judicial settlement conferences. Under its CJRA plan, effective December 1, 1993, the District of the Northern Mariana Islands authorizes judicially hosted settlement conferences. The presiding judge may refer any civil case to a settlement conference without party consent or at the request of any one party. Participating attorneys are required to have full settlement authority, and the judge may require the attendance or availability of parties. The assigned judge in this one-judge district is also authorized to conduct settlement conferences.

Summary jury trials (SJT). The district's CJRA plan authorizes summary jury trials. A case may be selected for a summary jury trial at the case management conference or at any other appropriate time by the court on its own motion, by motion of one party, or by stipulation of all parties. Summary jury trials are generally held after the close of discovery and about sixty days before trial. Earlier use is also authorized.

Other ADR. The district's CJRA advisory group recommended against development of other dispute resolution programs "because of the small number of practicing attorneys, the lack of experience and unavailability of training, and the small case load of the court."

Of note

Obligations of counsel. Counsel must be fully prepared to discuss ADR and settlement prospects with the court.

For more information

Chief Judge's Law Clerk, 011-670-233-3293, (fax) 011-670-234-6292

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Excerpted from ADR and Settlement in the Federal District Courts: A Sourcebook for Judges & Lawyers, 1996, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center and CPR Institute for Dispute Resolution