118 STAT. 2207 PUBLIC LAW 108–378—OCT. 30, 2004 ‘‘(5) hear and determine appeals by a panel of three of the justices of the Supreme Court of Guam and a concurrence of two such justices shall be necessary to a decision of the Supreme Court of Guam on the merits of an appeal; ‘‘(6) make and promulgate rules governing the administra tion of the judiciary and the practice and procedure in the courts of the judicial branch of Guam, including procedures for the determination of an appeal en banc; and ‘‘(7) govern attorney and judicial ethics and the practice of law in Guam, including admission to practice law and the conduct and discipline of persons admitted to practice law. ‘‘(b) The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Guam— ‘‘(1) shall preside over the Supreme Court unless disquali fied or unable to act; ‘‘(2) shall be the administrative head of, and have general supervisory power over, all departments, divisions, and other instrumentalities of the judicial branch of Guam; and ‘‘(3) may issue such administrative orders on behalf of the Supreme Court of Guam as necessary for the efficient administration of the judicial branch of Guam. ‘‘(c) The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Guam, or a justice sitting in place of such Chief Justice, may make any appro priate order with respect to— ‘‘(1) an appeal prior to the hearing and determination of that appeal on the merits; or ‘‘(2) dismissal of an appeal for lack of jurisdiction or failure to take or prosecute the appeal in accordance with applicable laws or rules of procedure. ‘‘(d) Except as granted to the Supreme Court of Guam or otherwise provided by this Act or any other Act of Congress, the Superior Court of Guam and all other local courts established by the laws of Guam shall have such original and appellate jurisdic tion over all causes in Guam as the laws of Guam provide, except that such jurisdiction shall be subject to the exclusive or concurrent jurisdiction conferred on the District Court of Guam under section 22 of this Act. ‘‘(e) The qualifications and duties of the justices and judges of the Supreme Court of Guam, the Superior Court of Guam, and all other local courts established by the laws of Guam shall be governed by the laws of Guam and the rules of such courts.’’. (c) TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.—(1) Section 22C(a) of the Organic Act of Guam (48 U.S.C. 1424–3(a)) is amended by inserting ‘‘which is known as the Supreme Court of Guam,’’ after ‘‘appellate court authorized by section 22A(a) of this Act,’’. (2) Section 22C(d) of the Organic Act of Guam (48 U.S.C. 1424–3(d)) is amended— (A) by inserting ‘‘, which is known as the Supreme Court of Guam,’’ after ‘‘appellate court provided for in section 22A(a) of this Act’’; and (B) by striking ‘‘taken to the appellate court’’ and inserting ‘‘taken to such appellate court’’.
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