Rule 21-1 Original Actions

If you want to bring a case straight to the NMI Supreme Court instead of starting in a lower court, you need to follow this rule. This applies to certain special cases where the Supreme Court is allowed to hear a matter first, like disputes covered under Article II, Section 4(b) of the NMI Constitution.

To start this kind of case, you file a petition with the Court Clerk. You also have to prove that you gave a copy of the petition to the other side, called the respondents. This proof of service shows the court that everyone involved knows about the case.

Once you file, the case moves forward using the same steps laid out in Rule 21, parts (a), (b), and (d). The court will try to follow those steps as closely as it can, though some small differences may come up depending on the situation.