I
107TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 521
To amend the Organic Act of Guam for the purposes of clarifying the
local judicial structure of Guam.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY 7, 2001
Mr. UNDERWOOD introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Resources
A BILL
To amend the Organic Act of Guam for the purposes of
clarifying the local judicial structure of Guam.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. JUDICIAL STRUCTURE OF GUAM.
(a) JUDICIAL AUTHORITY; COURTS.—Section 22(a)
of the Organic Act of Guam (48 U.S.C. 1424(a)) is
amended to read as follows:
‘‘(a) (1) The judicial authority of Guam shall be vest-
ed in a court established by Congress designated as the
‘District Court of Guam’, and a judicial branch of Guam
which shall constitute a unified judicial system and include
‘‘(2) shall be the administrative head of, and
have general supervisory power over, all depart-
ments, divisions, and other instrumentalities of the
judicial branch of Guam; and
‘‘(3) may issue such administrative orders on
behalf of the Supreme Court of Guam as necessary
for the efficient administration of the judicial branch
of Guam.
‘‘(c) The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of
Guam, or a justice sitting in place of such Chief Justice,
may make any appropriate order with respect to—
‘‘(1) an appeal prior to the hearing and deter-
mination of that appeal on the merits; or
‘‘(2) dismissal of an appeal for lack of jurisdic-
tion or failure to take or prosecute the appeal in ac-
cordance with applicable laws or rules of procedure.
‘‘(d) Except as granted to the Supreme Court of
Guam or otherwise provided by this Act or any other Act
of Congress, the Superior Court of Guam and all other
local courts established by the laws of Guam shall have
such original and appellate jurisdiction over all causes in
Guam as the laws of Guam provide, except that such juris-
diction shall be subject to the exclusive or concurrent ju-
risdiction conferred on the District Court of Guam under
section 22 of this Act.
‘‘(e) The qualifications and duties of the justices and
judges of the Supreme Court of Guam, the Superior Court
of Guam, and all other local courts established by the laws
of Guam shall be governed by the laws of Guam and the
rules of such courts.’’.
(c) TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.—(1) Section 22B of
the Organic Act of Guam (48 U.S.C. 1424–2) is
amended—
(A) by inserting ‘‘which is known as the Su-
preme Court of Guam,’’ after ‘‘appellate court au-
thorized by section 22A(a) of this Act,’’; and
(B) by striking ‘‘Natural Resources’’ and in-
serting ‘‘Resources’’.
(2) Section 22C(a) of the Organic Act of Guam (48
U.S.C. 1424–3(a)) is amended by inserting ‘‘which is
known as the Supreme Court of Guam,’’ after ‘‘appellate
court authorized by section 22A(a) of this Act,’’.
(3) Section 22C(d) of the Organic Act of Guam (48
U.S.C. 1424–3(d)) is amended—
(A) by inserting ‘‘, which is known as the Su-
preme Court of Guam,’’ after ‘‘appellate court pro-
vided for in section 22A(a) of this Act’’; and
(B) by striking ‘‘taken to the appellate court’’
and inserting ‘‘taken to such appellate court’’.
Æ