The U.S. District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands has postponed the 26th Annual CNMI High School Mock Trial Competition to March 5–6, citing uncertainty over federal judiciary funding and the need to avoid disruptions for participating schools.
The competition—co-hosted with the NMI Bar Association—will now take place at the United States Courthouse in Gualo Rai, where seven high schools from Saipan, Tinian and Rota will compete for the chance to represent the Commonwealth at the National High School Mock Trial Championship in Des Moines, Iowa, in May.
Court officials said the decision to delay the event by one month followed recent developments in Washington that raised doubts about whether Congress would approve new federal judiciary funding before the current authorization expires on Jan. 30. Guidance from the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts indicate that supplemental funding would not extend beyond Feb. 4 if no new legislation is enacted.
Because the mock trial competition is considered a nonessential activity under federal law, the District Court would be unable to incur new expenses to host the event on its original dates of Feb. 5–6.
The annual competition offers students the opportunity to serve as attorneys and witnesses, learn trial procedure and present arguments before members of the legal community in a real courtroom setting. The CNMI Judiciary hosted the first competition in 1999 and continued sponsorship through 2025, except for two years during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year’s case, Cruz v. Vic’s Vâporium, involves a lawsuit filed by the parents of a high school sophomore who died after using an e-cigarette. The complaint alleges that a local smoke shop unlawfully sold vaping products to the minor, raising questions of liability and underage access.
The court expressed appreciation to teachers, attorney-coaches, volunteers and partners for their flexibility and reaffirmed its commitment to hosting the event in March. The community is invited to attend the awards ceremony on March 6 at 11 a.m., when outstanding performances and the Commonwealth’s representative to the national championship will be announced.
