PUBLIC NOTICE OF PROPOSED REGULATIONS REGARDING THE USE OF
INVESTIGATIVE SUBPOENAS BY THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
INTENDED ACTION TO ADOPT THESE PROPOSED REGULATIONS:
The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Office of the Attorney General intends to adopt as permanent regulations the attached Proposed Regulations, pursuant to the procedures of the Administrative Procedure Act,1 CMC § 9104(a). The Regulations
would become effective 10 days after adoption and publication in the Commonwealth
Register. (1 CMC § 91 05(b))
AUTHORITY: NMI Constitution, Article III, Section 11 & The CNMI Administrative
Procedure Act (1 CMC §§ 9101-9115). The Office of the Attorney General is
constitutionally established as an independent agency within the executive branch,
headed by the elected Attorney General. The NMI Constitution requires the Attorney
General to “prosecut[e] violations of Commonwealth law.”
THE TERMS AND SUBSTANCE: The Regulations provide the process by which the
Office of the Attorney General shall issue and enforce investigative subpoenas to
investigate violations of Commonwealth law.
THE SUBJECTS AND ISSUES INVOLVED: These rules and regulations: establish the
process by which the Office of the Attorney General will issue and enforce investigative
subpoenas for documents and testimony in connection with prosecuting violations of
Commonwealth law.
DIRECTIONS FOR FILING AND PUBLICATION: These Proposed Regulations shall be
published in the Commonwealth Register in the section on proposed and newly adopted
regulations (1 CMC § 91 02(a)(1)) and posted in convenient places in the civic center and
in local government offices in each senatorial district, both in English and in the principal
vernacular. (1 CMC § 91 04(a)(1 )).
TO PROVIDE COMMENTS: Send or deliver your comments to the Office of the Attorney
General, at the above address or email address, with the subject line “Subpoena
Regulations.” Comments are due within 30 days from the date of publication of this
notice. Please submit your data, views or arguments. (1 CMC § 91 04(a)(2)).
These proposed regulations were approved by the Attorney General on September 23,
2025.