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Court cases declining except family matters
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Posted on Jul 13 2008
Except in family court, all cases filed in the Superior Court the past eight years show a decreasing trend.
According to the CNMI Judiciary’s Annual Report for Calendar Year 2007, a total of 82,516 cases were filed from 2000 to 2007.
During that eight-year period, a total of 71,811 cases were disposed and 10,705 cases were pending. This translates to 87.03 percent in total cases disposed and 12.97 percent total cases pending.
The total number of cases dropped significantly. From a high of 15,589 in 2000, there were only 5,630 total cases filed in 2007.
The figures show a declining trend. In 2001, there were 13,737 total cases; in 2002, 11,748; in 2003, 8,971; in 2004, 10,515; in 2005, 8,076; and in 2006, 8,250.
The bulk of the 82,516 total cases filed were traffic and small claims, with 58,529 and 10,558 cases respectively.
There were 5,299 family court cases, 4,930 civil cases, and 3,200 criminal cases.
The trend also indicates decreasing total numbers in civil, criminal, small claims, and traffic cases.
But the family court figures show a different story. From 623 cases filed in 2000 before the family court, the number climbed to 780 in 2007.
The statistics show an upward trend. In 2001 there were 598; in 2002, 674; in 2003, 549; in 2004, 612; in 2005, 701; and in 2006, 762.
The Judiciary’s Annul Report stated that from 2003 to 2007, divorce, family protection and juvenile filings show a pattern of high in numbers for Saipan, Tinin, and Rota.
The data also shows significant increases in the filings of Family Protection cases (TRO), guardianship, and wardship cases in 2007, compared to previous years.
