Guam § 4101 - Superior Court: Nature and Composition.

§ 4101. Superior Court: Nature and Composition.

(a) The Superior Court of Guam is a court of general jurisdiction in Guam, having original jurisdiction

as prescribed by this Title and in other laws of Guam which are not within the exclusive jurisdiction of the

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Supreme Court of Guam or the District Court of Guam. The Superior Court shall consist of a presiding

judge and six (6) additional judges. The Judges of the Superior Court shall be appointed as provided in this

Title. The Presiding Judge holding office on the effective date of this Act shall remain Presiding Judge for

so long as he shall remain a Judge of the Superior Court. Thereafter, however, the Judges of the Superior

Court shall elect one (1) of their number Presiding Judge. The first elected Presiding Judge shall serve until

the third Tuesday of the first January occurring three (3) years after his or her election. Thereafter a

Presiding Judge shall serve a term of three (3) years, unless he or she is elected to fill a vacancy, in which

case he or she shall serve only the remainder of the unexpired term of his or her predecessor. No person

may be elected to consecutive terms as a Presiding Judge.

(b) If the Judicial Council determines that additional Judges are required for the proper dispatch of

business, the Chief Justice shall so notify I Maga’håga/Maga’låhi, who, if he or she concurs, shall appoint

a new Judge as in the case of a vacancy.

(c) If, for any reason, a vacancy is created in the Superior Court and the Judicial Council determines

that the business of the Court is such that no new Judge is required to fill the vacancy, the Chief Justice

shall so declare, and upon such declaration, no Judge shall be appointed to fill the vacancy until the Judicial

Council again determines that a need exists and proceeds in the manner prescribed by Subsection (b) of this