Reyes joins the OAG; Lowrey is new division chief

Attorney General Edward Manibusan, rightmost, administers the oath of office to the assistant attorneys general of the civil and criminal division. Others in the photo, from left to right, are Carl Dela Cruz, Civil Division chief John Lowrey, Jose P. Mafnas Jr., Thomas Schweiger, and Charles P. Reyes Jr. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS)

Charles P. Reyes Jr. has joined the Office of the Attorney General as its newest assistant attorney general, while John Lowrey was promoted as chief of the Civil Division.

“We are pleased to welcome Charles to our litigation team of the Civil Division. We are grateful that at a time like this we are able to be in a position to continue our office’s growth by adding a talented attorney like Charles,” said Attorney General Edward Manibusan in a statement last Friday. “Charles will be an outstanding addition to the OAG.”

Before joining the OAG, Reyes worked as a private attorney and handled criminal and civil cases for more than five years. Before taking a different career path in the legal profession, Reyes took on various roles in the CNMI government, such as press secretary for the administration from 2006 to 2009, public information officer for the leadership in the 14th CNMI House of Representatives, and assistant manager for office operations for the 2010 Census. Additionally, Reyes taught as a high school English teacher in the Public School System.

In the private sector, Reyes has previous work experience in sales, management, and journalism. Reyes previously also served as chairman of the NMI Council for the Humanities, and was vice president of his law school’s Federalist Society Chapter. Reyes is an alumnus of the 2016 Pacific Century Fellows Program.

Before receiving his license to practice law, Reyes completed legal externships with the CNMI Superior Court, the Office of the Attorney General, and was a legal intern to the late Attorney Edward C. Arriola.

Reyes obtained his juris doctor from the University of Idaho College of Law and a bachelor’s degree in Speech from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Reyes is admitted to practice law in the NMI District Court and the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, and was a CNMI Certified Mediator.

“I appreciate the opportunity to serve the Commonwealth and gain valuable work experience as a public attorney in these challenging times,” said Reyes.

Lowrey’s promotion was conducted in a brief ceremony with other assistant attorneys general taking their oaths of office renewing their commitment to continue their career in service to the public. The oath of office is contained in Article XVII of the NMI Constitution which requires all employees of the Commonwealth workforce to be administered the oath of office.

“On behalf of our entire office, we congratulate John in his new role as chief of Civil Division. The position has been vacant nearly two years and I am confident John will resume the responsibilities as chief with the highest honor and integrity for the betterment of the Commonwealth,” said Manibusan.

Lowrey embarked on his position as assistant attorney general for the CNMI OAG last year at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. He brings to the office a decade of legal experience, having previously served as an AAG for the American Samoa Attorney General’s Office’s Civil Division, a deputy attorney general for the Indiana Attorney General Office’s Tax Litigation Division, and a clerk for the Indiana Tax Court.

Lowrey’s prior practice has focused on complex litigation, with particular emphasis on state and local tax, financial, and land matters. He has been lead counsel for government agencies in more than 100 cases in various courts, including the Indiana Supreme Court, the Indiana Tax Court, the High Court of American Samoa, and county-level trial courts.

Lowrey earned his juris doctor from Indiana University Maurer School of Law in Bloomington, IN, after receiving a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a minor in Japanese from Pacific University in Forest Grove, OR. He is admitted to practice law in Indiana, Oregon, American Samoa and the CNMI. (PR)