Emerenciana Peter-Palican v. Government of the Commonwealth

FOR PUBLICATION UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT EMERENCIANA PETER-PALICAN,  Plaintiff-Appellee, v. GOVERNMENT OF THE No. 10-17153 COMMONWEALTH OF THE NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS; BENIGNO R.  D.C. No. 1:07-cv-00022 FITIAL, Governor of the OPINION Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, in his official capacity, Defendants-Appellants.  Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of the Northern Mariana Islands John C. Coughenour, District Judge, Presiding Argued February 16, 2012 Honolulu, Hawaii Submission Deferred March 12, 2012 Resubmitted August…