ORDER AND NOTICE OF CHANGE OF VENUE
FOR SENTENCING HEARING
United States of America v. Giselle Butalid and Clarissa Adlawan
This matter is currently set for a combined sentencing, restitution, and Rule 41 motion hearing to take place on May 6, 2026, at 9:00 a.m., in the Third Floor Courtroom of the United States Courthouse, located at Gualo Rai, Saipan. (Mins., ECF No. 91.) By general order dated April 27, 2026, the Court ordered the closure of the United States Courthouse to the public until further notice in view of the Court’s inability “to maintain public access to the courthouse, even with modified business hours.” (Gen. Order No. 26-00008, at 1.) The Court further indicated that the form of criminal proceedings “involving the taking of evidence and trial” would be subject to “determinations as appropriate” on an individualized basis. (Id. (item 3).) Today, May 5, 2026, the venue for the hearing was updated by docket entry to reflect the Commonwealth Supreme Court courtroom as the new venue. The Court now issues this order to memorialize the change in venue and give notice to the Parties, counsel, and the public.
On May 3, 2026, the Commonwealth Supreme Court issued Administrative Order No. 2026-ADM-0013-MSC, in which the Commonwealth Supreme Court ordered the reopening of the Guma’ Hustisia to the public “for so long as the generator is operational and for limited purposes, including bail, family protection, emergency, time-sensitive, and selected criminal matters.”1 The Court has consulted with the Commonwealth Judiciary and relevant federal stakeholders concerning the feasibility and safety of holding an in-person sentencing hearing that is open to the public. In addition, the Court recognizes that the public has a qualified “First Amendment right of public access . . . to in-court sentencing proceedings,” United States v. Doe, 870 F.3d 991, 997 (9th Cir. 2017), and that closure is inappropriate unless “(1) closure serves a compelling interest; (2) there is a substantial probability that, in the absence of closure, this compelling interest would be harmed; and (3) there are no alternatives to closure that would adequately protect the compelling interest,” id. (quoting Oregonian Publ’g Co. v. U.S. Dist. Ct., 920 F.2d 1462, 1466 (9th Cir. 1990)).
The availability of the Guma’ Hustisia is an alternative to closure of the sentencing hearing to the public that adequately protects “rights and ensure[s] the safety of parties and the public.” (Gen. Order No. 26-00008, at 1.) As such, the Court has determined that a change in venue from the closed United States Courthouse to the reopened Guma’ Hustisia is appropriate. Accordingly,
- The sentencing, restitution, and Rule 41 motion hearings set for May 6, 2026, at 9:00 a.m., will take place in the Commonwealth Supreme Court courtroom, located on the ground floor of the Guma’ Hustisia, in Susupe, Saipan.
- The hearings are open to the public. All attendees will be subject to the screening procedures at the Guma’ Hustisia.