The Northern Mariana Islands Supreme Court Rules are generally based on the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure. Care has been taken to ensure that deviations from the federal rules are minimal. Accordingly, a deviation from an analogous federal rule is intentional. Rules designated by integers (e.g., “25”) or decimals (e.g., “26.1”) are based on the corresponding federal rule bearing the same number. Rules designated by dashed numbers (e.g., “27-1”) are not. This numbering system is analogous to that used by the federal circuits, where local circuit rules are designated by dashed numbers. The only exceptions to this format are Rules 13 and 14, dealing with certified questions. These are not based on federal rules.

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