Rule 4 E-system Registration

Persons Who Must Use the E-system. Unless otherwise permitted under these rules, every person identified below shall be a registered filer and shall use the E-system: Attorneys, including attorneys admitted pro hac vice and attorneys who represent themselves; Court-approved mediators, evaluators, or other service providers, including any person on a roster published by the CNMI Judiciary; Any person who is compensated for preparing or submitting reports or evaluations to the court; Individuals representing themselves, potential intervenors, and claimants; and Any other person as ordered by the court. Pro Hac Vice Registration. An attorney not licensed in the CNMI must register with the E-system upon admission pro hac vice. The attorney admitted pro hac vice shall enter an appearance in the case.

Exemption from E-system Registration. Good Cause Exemption. Upon motion and for good cause, the court may excuse a person otherwise required to be a registered filer from registering with the E-system and from e-filing and e-service. Good cause includes incarceration or a disability that prevents a person from registering with the E-system or from using e-filing and e-service. Duties of Persons Excused from Using the E-system. A nonregistered filer shall provide an email address for service of all documents. If an email address is not available, the nonregistered filer shall identify a physical address for service of all documents. The nonregistered filer shall pay mailing or service fees charged by the Clerk at the time of filing. The Clerk may reject documents submitted by a nonregistered filer if the nonregistered filer does not provide a service address or fails to pay mailing or other filing fees without an appropriate exemption. Change of Nonregistered Filer Status. A nonregistered filer who becomes a registered filer automatically terminates, without notice, any previously granted good cause exemption. The filer must apply for a new good cause exemption to return to nonregistered filer status.

Improper Use of the E-system. To prevent improper use of the E-system, the court may, for good cause, prohibit a registered filer from conducting certain activities in the E-system and may prohibit a registered filer from using the E-system through court order. The court may provide instructions on the new filing procedure for that filer. The court may sanction any person who violates any prohibition issued by the court with respect to use of the E-system.