118 HR 10443 IH: Article III Judicial Independence Act of 2024 U.S. House of Representatives 2024-12-17 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I118th CONGRESS2d SessionH. R. 10443IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESDecember 17, 2024Mr. Sablan introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the JudiciaryA BILLTo 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Section 1 of the Act of November 8, 1977 (48 U.S.C. 1821) is repealed.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.