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$85K annual salary for Kingman as AAG OK’d
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Posted on Jun 27 2023
James Robert Kingman, who is the special prosecutor in the criminal case against former governor Ralph DLG Torres, will soon be employed as an assistant attorney general with the Office of the Attorney General’s Criminal Division.
Gov. Arnold I. Palacios informed House of Representatives Speaker Edmund S. Villagomez (Ind-Saipan) and Senate President Edith E. DeLeon Guerrero (D-Saipan) last Thursday that he is granting approval to allow Kingman, who will be employed as an AAG, to receive an annual salary exceeding the $65,175 cap set by the Compensation Adjustment Act.
“Mr. Kingman will be receiving $85,000 per annum,” Palacios said.
The governor said he is also advising the chairman of the Civil Service Commission of this certification.
Arnold I. Palacios, James Robert Kingman and Ralph DLG Torres
Earlier, Torres’ defense team petitioned Finance Secretary Tracy B. Norita to invalidate the contract between Kingman and the OAG, which had hired him as special prosecutor to assist in prosecuting the case against the former governor. Kingman is on a $50,000 retainer as special prosecutor.
Torres’ counsel in the petition asserted that the special prosecutor contract with the OAG is void because it fails to comply with the Commonwealth procurement regulations.
Norita, however, declined to rule or address the merits of Torres’ request for a declaratory ruling that Kingman’s contract with the OAG invalid.
Torres recently filed a petition with the Superior Court to set aside Norita’s decision in the matter.
In April 2022, the OAG charged Torres with offenses alleging misconduct in office. Last February, the OAG hired Kingman to serve as special prosecutor in the case, pursuant to a sole-source contractual engagement.
