The Guam Legislature, I Liheslaturan Guåhan, is a unicameral body consisting of 15 senators.
The current 37th Guam Legislature (2022–present) has a 8–6 Democratic majority (one vacancy) led by Speaker Therese M.
[2] On August 1, 1950, President Harry S. Truman signed into law the Guam Organic Act of 1950 which gave Guamanians certain rights and protections under the U.S. Constitution.
The Judiciary Act gave the Island Court of Guam jurisdiction over misdemeanors and civil cases having a value of less than $2,000 and created a Police Court with jurisdiction over misdemeanor cases in which the maximum penalty did not exceed a fine of $100 or imprisonment of six months, or both.
For the first time, the judiciary in Guam, exercised its powers independent of the executive branch.
In response to Guam v. Olsen, Congress passed the 1984 Omnibus Territories Act.
The Act, however, did not provide a structure for a newly created judicial system once the appellate court was established.
In 1992, the 21st Guam Legislature unanimously passed Public Law 21-147, the Frank G. Lujan Memorial Court Reorganization Act.
On March 15, 2006, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed a case brought by Attorney General Douglas Moylan against Governor Felix Camacho on the basis of its lack of jurisdiction, confirming for the first time that the Ninth Circuit no longer would review the Supreme Court of Guam's decisions.
The others are the district courts for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, also located within the Ninth Circuit, and the U.S.
Its lone federal District Court chief judge is one of the few Article IV territorial judgeships, appointed by the president of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate to a ten-year term.
Frances Marie Tydingco-Gatewood, the first female Chamorro federal judge for the United States.
The Supreme Court is located on the 3rd floor, and convenes for appeals and hearing in the Monessa G. Lujan Memorial Courtroom, while the Superior Court is located on the 1st and 2nd floors and convenes in various trial courtrooms.
Justices serve for life, subject to a retention election every ten years after his/her appointment.
Judges of the Superior Court are appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the Legislature for a term of eight years.
They must garner at least 50 percent plus one favorable vote of the number of cast ballots to remain in office.
The hearing officer generally does not preside over all of these subjects, but is utilized predominantly in small claims, family, and traffic matters.
These programs are examples of "therapeutic justice" which focuses on rehabilitation of offenders and their reintegration into society.
United States Courts for the Ninth Circuit Public Information Office (April 26, 2006).
Guam Organic Act Amendment, per THOMAS (Library of Congress reports) Archived November 2, 2004, at the Wayback Machine Guam is affiliated to the ESCAP (associate), Interpol (sub-bureau), IOC, and Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC).
On 31 July 2020, the Government of Guam joined the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO).