We Must Keep Justice Accessible for All
Everyone deserves access to fair legal representation. It’s not just a principle, it’s a constitutional right. This week, I met with Attorneys Bruce Berline and David Banes, members of the Criminal Justice Act panel committee for the CNMI, to discuss national funding shortfalls that could jeopardize access to federal court-appointed counsel. The Defender Services program is facing a $196 million gap in FY 2026 funding under the House FSGG bill. Without full support, the program may be forced to cut over 600 positions or delay panel attorney payments for more than 11 weeks. These cuts would harm access to justice in the Marianas and across the country. I appreciated the information I’ll keep working to make sure fairness in our courts is never compromised by budget decisions.