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CNMI and Guam attorney reciprocity program pushed
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Posted on Jun 12 2011
Senate Vice President Jude U. Hofschneider (R-Tinian) has pre-filed a bill that will allow lawyers in Guam to also practice in the CNMI under an attorney reciprocity program.
Once Senate Bill 17-64 becomes law, attorneys continuously residing for at least 10 years in Guam and who have been admitted to practice law there for at least 10 years could be permitted to try or participate in trials or proceedings in the CNMI.
However, this will be permitted only when Guam also grants permission to attorneys admitted to practice law in the CNMI to also act as attorneys for clients in Guam under similar terms.
Hofschneider said that providing for attorney reciprocity with Guam would remove the current obstacle to investors wishing to invest both in the CNMI and Guam, and clients in need of legal representation in both jurisdictions.
“While there are a number of lawyers already admitted to practice law in the Commonwealth and Guam, establishing an attorney reciprocity program would greatly enhance the public’s access in the Commonwealth and Guam to a much larger pool of legal expertise, which will facilitate and result in greater savings and other social and economic benefits,” he said.
Under the bill, the Supreme Court shall promulgate rules to implement the reciprocity programs.
