Resolutions

Policy Statements & Resolutions

Resolution 17
Recognizing the Supreme Court of Guam as the Highest Court of Guam

WHEREAS, the Conference of Chief Justices at its 1998 Midyear Meeting supported the efforts of Guam and the Congress to assure by legislation the independence of the judiciary and to maintain its judicial branch as a separate and co-equal branch of government; and

WHEREAS, the proposed legislation clarified existing federal law and recognized the Supreme Court of Guam as the highest court of the Territory; and

WHEREAS, securing these fundamental principles is essential to our form of government; and

WHEREAS, H.R. 2370 was not acted upon by the Congress; and

WHEREAS, Congressman Robert A. Underwood, D-Guam, intends to renew his efforts in securing the passage of similar legislation in the First Session of the 107th Congress; and

WHEREAS, the Conference wishes to express its continuing support of H.R. 2370 and similar successive legislation to be reintroduced in the First Session of the 107th Congress;

NOW, THEREFORE BE, IT RESOLVED that the Conference supports renewed congressional efforts to clarify federal law recognizing the Supreme Court of Guam as the highest court of Guam; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Government Relations Office of the National Center for State Courts actively assist the Supreme Court of Guam in obtaining that objective.

Adopted as proposed by the State-Federal Relations Committee of the Conference of Chief Justices in Baltimore, Maryland at the 24th Midyear Meeting on January 25, 2001.