Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands v. Joseph A. Bowie

TROTT, Circuit Judge:

Appellant Joseph A. Bowie (“Bowie”) appeals a judgment originating from the Superior Court of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (“CNMI”) encompassing convictions for the premeditated murder in 1992 of Elaudio Laude (“Laude”), and for the kidnaping of Laude and his friend, Nilo Rivera (“Rivera”). The Supreme Court of the CNMI has signaled its affirmance of the convictions in a pro forma two-paragraph decision dated September 13, 1999, but has not yet published an opinion explaining its rationale.

Bowie asks us to reverse his convictions and to grant him a new…