Palacios says Demapan was ‘very candid’

House Speaker Arnold Palacios said he appreciates chief justice Miguel S. Demapan’s candidness in his State of the Judiciary Address last Friday.

“It’s not your traditional State of the Judiciary address. It did not confine itself to issues and report of the year, particularly on the judiciary. It expanded beyond that and gave a different perspective in terms of the existing situation we’re in,” Palacios told the media shortly after Demapan delivered his 45-minute Address before a jampacked joint session of the 16th Legislature.

The speaker said Demapan’s speech was a departure from the regular report on what the judicial branch has done by incorporating the current economic situation.

“He’s very candid,” he said.

Palacios said he agrees with the chief justice on the need for a dialogue among the three branches of the government on important issues to avoid confrontational arguments in public.

In his Address, Demapan talked about the economic depression and politics, and even chided the Legislature for proposing bills that, according to him, would curtail judicial independence.

Assuring people that the CNMI’s judicial system is strong, the chief justice vowed to protect “at all cost” the sanctity of judicial independence.

Demapan also defended the salary of judges or justices, which he described as “one of the many works of genius in our Constitution.”

On the judiciary’s budget issue, Palacios said Demapan was very honest that it’s going to be a challenge for the justices and judges if further cut in their funding level is made.

“I’m glad that he acknowledged the fiscal challenges to the whole government,” he said.

“Given the level of funding that we have, which has gone down from the last fiscal year, we will take a look at how we are going to make this [budget] work,” the speaker said.

He said lawmakers will do their very best to spare essential judicial services from budget cuts.

On the salary of justices and judges, Palacios said Demapan was honest where he stands on the issue.

“I will not venture too much to talk about it. Certainly members of the Legislature are free as part of their job and their authority to introduce legislation. Those legislations will be given proper review,” he pointed out.

As for the chief justice’s concern over some of the initiatives introduced by lawmakers, Palacios said he is confident those issues will be incorporated into the deliberation process.

In a separate interview with Saipan Tribune, Senate President Pete Reyes said he agreed with Demapan’s call for a dialogue between the different branches of the government.

“ That is one thing that I fully support. I think that there is a need to work together not just on the issue of budget but on other issues that affect the lives of our people,” Reyes said.

The Senate president said there is a neutral ground to try and discuss issues for the best interests and not just based on politics or political leanings.

Reyes refused to comment on the issue of salary of judges and justices.