Soll sees need for more gov’t lawyers

Heeding a call from Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio to put the Commonwealth’s legal house in order, newly-appointed acting Attorney General Herbert D. Soll vowed yesterday to look into the current assignment of government lawyers.

Mr. Soll said his office is currently reviewing previous deployment of government lawyers to determine if the current number is enough to provide sufficient legal assistance to the CNMI.

The newly-appointed chief government lawyer said the AGO is undermanned considering that a number of positions have been left vacant due to lack of funds. There are 10 positions unfilled at the AG’s office, he said.

Specifically, Mr. Soll said there is a need to hire one assistant attorney general each for labor and immigration and the Criminal Division.

The new AG is expected to carry out major house cleaning in the office in the next few weeks to address public concerns that the AGO has turned inefficient due to the absence of a permanent head for almost two years.

Mr. Soll has the governor’s confidence that he will be able to effectively carry out a reorganization at the AGO. Mr. Soll’s appointment Thursday last week was sent immediately to the Senate for its advice and consent.

Mr. Tenorio said in a previous interview he is confident Mr. Soll can bring the people’s trust back to the Attorney General’s Office as he expects the new AG nominee to carry out a reorganization.

The CNMI chief executive is raising hopes that the his AG nominee will get the elusive confirmation of the influential Senate Committee on Executive Appointments and Governmental Investigations, which had persistently rejected the confirmation of former acting AG Maya Kara since she was appointed to the position in 1998.

The Superior Court earlier this year ordered the governor to appoint a permanent AG, declaring Mr. Tenorio’s appointment of Ms. Kara as unconstitutional.

Legislators previously expressed concerns on the Commonwealth government’s legal house due to the absence of a permanent AG for at least 18 months.

Mr. Tenorio is hoping that his nominee to the AGO will be able to get the Senate’s nod this time in order for Mr. Soll to completely carry out the needed changes in the office.

He said how Mr. Soll will be able to put the government’s legal house in order depends on how fast the Senate will act on his confirmation. (Aldwin R. Fajardo)