Opinion ID: 766198
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Exercise of Discretion to Grant Petition.

Text: 17 Even if our doubts about finality could be resolved, we do not see this as a case in which exercise of certiorari jurisdiction would be warranted. 18 EIE Guam attacks the Guam Supreme Court's interpretation of 11 G.C.A. S 106730, arguing that, even if section 106730 exempts off-shore banks taking security interests in real property from some regulation because of its nothing in this chapter language, as the business licensing requirements are not contained in Chapter Seven, they continue to apply to such banks. The Guam Supreme Court's interpretation of the interplay of the various Guamanian statutes, however, offers a well-crafted analysis of the laws. The court explains in a thorough review of the overall statutory scheme and analysis of legislative purpose why the nothing in this chapter limitation of section 106730 does not leave foreign banks, operating under section 106730, subject to licensing under other chapters. The court's observation of the absence in section 106730 of language requiring compliance with Guam law generally, as compared to the otherwise parallel section 106731 that does require such compliance, buttresses their interpretation. 8 19 This is an issue of local statutory interpretation, implicating no federal statutory or constitutional issue. Although Congress certainly has given us jurisdiction to review issues of local Guam law, we hesitate to use this authority where, on the merits, the Guam Supreme Court appears to have construed a Guam statute reasonably and fairly. Exercising our discretionary certiorari power here would undercut Congress's intent to allow Guam to develop its own, independent institutions. Moreover, as this is an issue of territorial law, the Guamanian legislature's ability to amend the statutes of Guam would seem a more than sufficient check on the Guam Supreme Court if, in the eyes of Guam's elected representatives, it had construed the statutory scheme contrary to the public policy of Guam. 20 The petition for certiorari is DENIED. 21 All pending motions are DENIED.