Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Article III Judicial Independence Act of 2024”.
Article III Judicial Independence Act of 2024
A BILL
To amend title 28, to provide for a district court for the district of the Northern Mariana Islands.
Sec. 2 New judicial district
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.”
Clerical amendment— The table of sections for such chapter is amended by inserting after the item pertaining to section 114 the following:
Sec. 3 Conversion of existing court and judge
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.
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.
Repeal— Section 1 of the Act of November 8, 1977 (48 U.S.C. 1821) is repealed.
Sec. 4 Judges in territories and possessions
Section 373 of title 28, United States Code, is amended—
in subsection (a), by striking “, the District Court of the Northern Mariana Islands,”; and
in subsection (e), by striking “, the District Court of the Northern Mariana Islands,”.
Sec. 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.