Skip to main content

Northern Mariana Islands Rules of Civil Procedure – 2026

The Northern Mariana Islands Rules of Civil Procedure govern civil actions in the CNMI Superior Court, based on the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and covering pleadings, parties, discovery, trials, and judgments.

Browse all 97 rules of the 2026 edition below. Each rule includes the full text, a plain-English summary, committee notes, amendment history, and cross-references to related rules. Use the search box to find rules by keyword or number.

Jump to

Article I: Scope of Rules—One Form of Action Article II: Commencement of Actions; Service of Process, Pleadings, Motions, and Orders Article III: Pleadings and Motions Article IV: Parties Article V: Disclosures and Discovery Article VI: Trials Article VII: Judgment Article VIII: Provisional and Final Remedies Article IX: Special Proceedings Article X: Court and Clerks Article XI: General Provisions

Article I: Scope of Rules—One Form of Action

Rule 1 Scope and Purpose of Rules; Definitions Rule 2 The Civil Action

Article II: Commencement of Actions; Service of Process, Pleadings, Motions, and Orders

Rule 3 Commencement of Action Rule 4 Summons Rule 5 Serving and Filing Pleadings and Other Documents Rule 6 Time

Article III: Pleadings and Motions

Rule 7 Pleadings Allowed; Form of Motions; Time Limits Rule 7.1 Disclosure Statement Rule 8 General Rules of Pleadings Rule 9 Pleading Special Matters Rule 10 Form of Pleadings Rule 11 Signing Pleadings, Motions, and Other Documents; Rule 12 Defenses and Objections: When and How Presented; Rule 13 Counterclaim and Cross-Claim Rule 14 Third-Party Practice Rule 15 Amended and Supplemental Pleadings Rule 16 Pretrial Conferences; Scheduling; Management

Article IV: Parties

Rule 17 Plaintiff and Defendant; Capacity; Public Officers Rule 18 Joinder of Claims Rule 19 Required Joinder of Parties Rule 20 Permissive Joinder of Parties Rule 21 Misjoinder and Nonjoinder of Parties Rule 22 Interpleader Rule 23 Class Actions Rule 23.1 Derivative Actions Rule 23.2 Actions Relating to Unincorporated Associations Rule 24 Intervention Rule 25 Substitution of Parties

Article V: Disclosures and Discovery

Rule 26 Duty to Disclose; General Provisions Governing Rule 27 Depositions to Perpetuate Testimony Rule 28 Persons Before Whom Depositions May Be Taken Rule 29 Stipulations About Discovery Procedure Rule 30 Depositions by Oral Examination Rule 31 Depositions by Written Questions Rule 32 Using Depositions in Court Proceedings Rule 33 Interrogatories to Parties Rule 34 Production of Documents and Things and Entry Upon Rule 35 Physical and Mental Examinations of Persons Rule 36 Requests for Admission Rule 37 Failure to Make Disclosures or to Cooperate in

Article VI: Trials

Rule 38 Jury Trial of Right Rule 39 Trial by Jury or by the Court Rule 40 Scheduling Cases for Trial Rule 41 Dismissal of Actions Rule 42 Consolidation; Separate Trials Rule 43 Taking Testimony Rule 44 Proving an Official Record Rule 44.1 Determination of Foreign Law Rule 45 Subpoena Rule 45.1 Notice to Appear in Lieu of Subpoena Rule 46 Objecting to a Ruling or Order Rule 47 Selection of Jurors Rule 48 Number of Jurors; Verdict; Polling Rule 49 Special Verdict; General Verdict and Questions Rule 50 Judgment as a Matter of Law in Jury Trial; Related Rule 51 Instructions to the Jury; Objections; Preserving a Claim Rule 52 Findings and Conclusions by the Court; Judgment on Rule 53 Masters

Article VII: Judgment

Rule 54 Judgment; Costs Rule 55 Default; Default Judgment Rule 56 Summary Judgment Rule 57 Declaratory Judgment Rule 58 Entering Judgments Rule 59 New Trial; Altering or Amending a Judgment Rule 60 Relief from a Judgment or Order Rule 61 Harmless Error Rule 62 Stay of Proceedings to Enforce a Judgment Rule 62.1 Indicative Ruling on Motion for Relief that Is Barred by Rule 63 Inability of a Judge to Proceed

Article VIII: Provisional and Final Remedies

Rule 64 Seizure of Property Rule 65 Injunctions and Restraining Orders Rule 65.1 Proceedings Against a Surety Rule 66 Receivers Rule 67 Deposit into Court Rule 68 Offer of Judgment Rule 69 Execution Rule 70 Judgment for Specific Acts; Vesting Title Rule 71 Enforcing Relief For or Against a Nonparty

Article IX: Special Proceedings

Rule 71.1 Condemnation of Property Rule 71.2 Habeas Corpus Cases Rule 72 [Reserved] Rule 73 [Reserved] Rule 74 [Reserved] Rule 75 [Reserved] Rule 76 [Reserved]

Article X: Court and Clerks

Rule 77 Court and Clerks Rule 78 Hearing Motions; Submission on Briefs Rule 79 Records Kept by the Clerk Rule 80 Transcript as Evidence

Article XI: General Provisions

Rule 81 Applicability in General Rule 82 Jurisdiction and Venue Unaffected Rule 82.1 Absence of Counsel Rule 82.2 Citation of Authority Rule 83 Small Claims Procedure Rule 84 Forms Rule 85 [Reserved] Rule 86 [Reserved]