Public Defender Office

This is a small Public Defender office that serves the criminally accused on three inhabited islands in the Northern Mariana Islands.

The Office:

           The office is located on Saipan in the Northern Marians Islands (CNMI), 125 miles north of Guam. The population is about 55,000 for all the islands, Saipan is less than 50,000. The Public Defender (PD) serves all of the CNMI with cases pending on all three of the populated islands; Saipan, Rota and Tinian. We often need to use translators as many clients do not speak English.

We are a 5 lawyer office with a support staff of an office manager, a legal assistant and an investigator. The budget is limited. We do a lot of our own investigation. Challenging the constitutionality of police actions and local statutes is integral to our practice and an evolving part of the law. We have our own cases but often need to cover court hearings for each other. We are a small office and need to support each other and cover cases and assignments for each other.

Location:

Saipan, as well as all of the CNMI, is a beautiful tropical island. The largest of the three main islands, it is about 15 miles long and 5 miles wide with lots of outdoor activities such as golf, snorkeling, scuba diving and fishing. There are several local sporting events such as golf tournaments, triathlons, on and of road bike and foot races, and swimming events.  

There is a diverse population with a large number of Chinese and Filipinos as well as the indigenous Carolinians and Chamorro. It’s hot and wet in the summer and fairly dry and pleasant in the winter. There is one small underfunded public hospital and a few private clinics. There are travel opportunities to the other islands in the chain and its proximity to Asia and other Pacific Islands allows for travel opportunities for the more adventurous.