HAGATNA, Guam — Guam is hosting the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for arguments for the first time in 12 years.
The District Court of Guam is hosting the appellate court for arguments in three cases on Wednesday local time, the Pacific Daily News reporte.
One case being heard is a Guam case challenging a nonbinding vote toward determining whether Guam should stay a U.S. territory or become a state, commonwealth, independent country or something else.
The vote is limited to people who fit the legal definition of Chamorro as American citizens who gained citizenship through the Organic Act of Guam in 1950.
The challenge is from a man who filed a lawsuit in response to the rule, saying it violates voting rights and the U.S. Constitution. The lawsuit was thrown out because the vote s not been scheduled, but the appeals court is considering reviving it.
The other cases involve an insurance dispute for Guam Shipyard and a criminal case for a man convicted of traveling to have sex with a minor.
The shipyard sued its insurers last year when they did not pay for a damaged dry dock that partly sank in 2011. U.S. District Court of Guam Chief Judge Frances Tydingco-Gatewood ruled there was no coverage under the insurance policy.