2019 Archives - Office of the Attorney General

OAG announces newest AAG

CNMI OAG — Thu, 07 Nov 2019 05:47:40 +0000

The Office of the Attorney General announces newest AAG

The Office of the Attorney General is pleased to announce the addition of its newest Assistant Attorney General, Ms. Erin Toolan.

Erin Toolan was sworn in on Thursday October 31, 2019 as the newest assistant attorney general for the Office of Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands. Chief Justice Alexandro C. Castro swore in the attorney, who will be working in the Criminal Division.

“We are very excited to add Ms. Toolan to the staff of prosecutors,” said Chief Prosecutor John Bradley. “She will begin in the Traffic Court, where she can get experience in the local procedures for handling criminal cases. But I’m confident she will soon be assigned more serious misdemeanor and felony cases,” concluded Chief Bradley.

Ms. Toolan previously volunteered in the United States Peace Corps, serving in Benin, West Africa from July 2009 to August 2011. As a volunteer, she developed and managed a national summer girls’ empowerment camp. She also worked in French Guiana for several months, teaching an English class. She is fluent in French.

“I look forward to serving the community and advocating for survivors during my time in the CNMI,” says Toolan.

Ms. Toolan graduated from Baylor Law School in Texas in 2015. She has worked for three years as an assistant district attorney in two Texas counties, handling misdemeanor and felony cases in trial courts. She has special experience working with victims in Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault cases.

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OAG welcomes two new AAG’s

Carla Torres — Thu, 23 May 2019 23:17:00 +0000

The Office of the Attorney General welcomes two new Assistant Attorneys General

The Office of the Attorney General is pleased to announce the addition of two new assistant attorneys general, Deanna M. Ogo and Benjamin K. Petersburg. Deanna and Benjamin join the litigation team of the civil division.

“On behalf of the entire office, I welcome Deanna and Benjamin to the team,” says Attorney General Edward Manibusan. “Their admirable skills and years of legal experience will enhance the services of our office as they individually have chosen to become a part of the public sector and aspire to build a better CNMI. I am confident they will serve the people of the Commonwealth to the best of their abilities,” concludes AG Manibusan.

A native of the CNMI, Deanna began her career as a legal intern for the CNMI Office of the Public Defender before taking on various roles and responsibilities within the CNMI Judiciary. She served as the CNMI Superior Court’s law clerk for two years, and seven years as clerk of court for the CNMI Supreme Court. As a clerk of court, Deanna managed the Court’s docket and case filings and also served on occasions as acting general counsel for the CNMI Judiciary.

Deanna coordinated the CNMI High School Mock Trial for numerous years and has conducted professional development trainings for the CNMI Judiciary.

Deanna obtained her Juris Doctor from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 2010 and a Bachelor of Arts in economics and a Minor in accounting from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio in 2007. Deanna is admitted to practice law in the CNMI.

Returning to the CNMI Office of the Attorney General, Benjamin worked for the office’s Criminal Division as a prosecutor in 2010 before moving to the CNMI Office of the Public Defender. He joined Berline & Associates, LLC in 2015 as an associate attorney and became a member of the Criminal Justice Act panel in the District Court for the NMI.

Getting a head start with his law career, Benjamin served as a law clerk for Randy Trca Law Firm in Iowa City, and interned in the Criminal Defense and Immigration department of the University of Iowa College of Law Legal Clinic. Before his move to the CNMI, Benjamin worked as a judicial extern in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa under the guidance of U.S. Magistrate Judge Celeste F. Bremer.

Benjamin sat on the boards for various organizations such as the Commonwealth Development Authority, Northern Marianas Housing Corporation, Commonwealth Utilities Corporation, and Refaluwasch Golf Association and is a member of the Marianas Young Professionals.

Benjamin obtained his Juris Doctor from the University of Iowa College of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Philosophy from the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. Benjamin is admitted to practice law in Iowa and the CNMI.

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35th Annual AG’s Cup Speech Competition (2nd Release) – Cannabis in the CNMI

CNMI OAG — Wed, 01 May 2019 04:38:09 +0000

Cannabis in the CNMI to be the topic at this year’s Attorney General’s Cup

The 35th Annual Attorney General’s Cup Speech Competition will be held on Friday, May 3, 9:00 am at the Hyatt Regency Ballroom.

This year, seven high schools will be participating in the competition and they include Dr. Rita Inos High School, Eucon International School, Grace Christian Academy, Marianas High School, Mount Carmel High School, Saipan Southern High School, and Kagman High School.

The 35th annual speech competition focuses on the legalization of Cannabis in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. This year’s topic is centered on the following: Is the passage of Public Law 20-66, also known as the Taulamwaar Sensible CNMI Cannabis Act of 2018, a cure or a curse for the Commonwealth? Will it help or hurt the CNMI in the short term or the long term?

Judging the AG’s Cup speech competition this year are current and former Attorneys General, Guam Attorney General Leevin T. Camacho, Chief Justice Alexandro C. Castro, Presiding Judge Roberto C. Naraja, and Chief Judge for the District Court of the NMI Ramona V. Manglona.

The ceremonial Posting of the Colors will be conducted by the JROTC Dolphin Battalion of Marianas High school, and alongside performing the CNMI and National anthem are the talented Marianas High School Glee Club.

The competition will be live streamed via the CNMI Attorney General’s Cup Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/2019CNMIAGCUP. Additionally, the broadcasting group of Marianas High School will perform the video production of the speech competition.

The Attorney General welcomes the public to attend the event and support the students of the CNMI on May 3, at 9:00 am at the Hyatt Regency Ballroom. For more information on the Attorney General’s Cup, please contact Ms. Keola Taisacan at the Office of the Attorney General’s Criminal Division at 237- 7600.

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35th Annual AG’s Cup Speech Competition is Scheduled for May 3rd, 2019

CNMI OAG — Thu, 04 Apr 2019 05:23:08 +0000

35th Annual AG’s Cup Speech Competition is Scheduled for May 3rd, 2019

The Attorney General is pleased to announce that the 35th Attorney General’s Cup Speech Competition will be held on May 3rd, 2019 at 9:30 am at the Hyatt Regency Ballroom.

Eight (8) high schools will be participating in this year’s competition. The schools include Dr. Rita Inos High School, Eucon International School, Grace Christian Academy, Marianas High School, Mount Carmel High School, Saipan Southern High School, Tinian High School, and Kagman High School.

“The AG’s Cup Speech Competition provides the CNMI’s high school students with the opportunity to research an issue that affects the Commonwealth, form a position on the issue, and showcase their voice and passion on the topic,” says Attorney General Manibusan. He adds, “The AG’s Cup Steering Committee have been meeting and working diligently in preparation for this event and we are delighted to have eight high schools join us this year.”

This year’s topic focuses on the legalization of Cannabis in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands: The issue presented in this year’s competition is:

Is the passage of Public Law 20-66, also known as the Taulamwaar Sensible CNMI Cannabis Act of 2018, a cure or a curse for the Commonwealth? Will it help or hurt the CNMI in the short term or the long term?

In preparing their speech, the students are asked to consider the following: 1) Cannabis is still illegal federally; discuss how this could affect production and consumption of Cannabis in the CNMI. How has it affected production and consumption in other jurisdictions? 2) What types of regulatory systems have been developed in other jurisdictions that allow recreational Cannabis use? 3) What have been the positives and negatives associated with recreational Cannabis use in jurisdictions that have legalized its use?

“The passing of Public Law 20-66 on September 21, 2018 made for a historic, yet, contentious topic in the CNMI,” says Attorney General Manibusan. He continues, “The topic is of great significance for the students to provide objective analysis and research to decision makers on cannabis policy that will have a significant impact on our community.

The Office of the Attorney General welcomes the public to attend the event and support the students of the CNMI. For more information on the Speech Competition, please contact Ms. Keola Taisacan at the Office of the Attorney General’s Criminal Division at 237-7600.

View PDF here.

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