AGO defends Dollison • Rep. Torres raises questions on assistant attorney general’s qualifications

Amid reports questioning the qualification of Assistant Attorney General Alan L. Dollison to practice law in the CNMI, the Attorney General’s Office immediately came to his defense expressing confidence in his personal and professional integrity.

In a statement, acting Attorney General Herb D. Soll said Mr. Dollison was fully licensed by the California Supreme Court and in good standing when he came to Saipan and assumed the post of an assistant attorney general.

However, due to a misunderstanding surrounding his move to Saipan, a former client filed a grievance with the bar there, resulting in Mr. Dollison’s temporary suspension by the State of California.

This has automatically resulted in the temporary suspension of Mr. Dollison in the Commonwealth on March 16, 2000 in an order signed by Chief Justice Miguel Demapan, Associate Justice Alexandro C. Castro and Justice Pro Tem John A. Manglona.

“The matter was quickly resolved with no harm to the client and Mr. Dollison’s license has been reinstated in California,” the AGO said.
Unfortunately, the issue was politicized even before the Commonwealth Supreme Court could make a final resolution on the issue. The Supreme Court could not issue any decision reinstating Mr. Dollison since Associate Justice Castro is off-island attending a conference.

The Attorney General’s Office said it is confident that Mr. Dollison’s license to practice law in the Commonwealth will be reinstated promptly when Justice Castro arrives.

When he learned about Mr. Dollison’s case, Rep. Stanley T. Torres wasted no time writing to Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio seeking an explanation on why someone who can’t practice law was recruited by the AGO.

As a fundamental procedure, Mr. Torres said the AGO should have made sure that all credentials were submitted and all the qualifications were met in recruiting lawyers to practice here.

All assistant attorneys general must be licensed by the CNMI Supreme Court to practice law in the Commonwealth. Since most assistant attorneys general will only stay for two years, the licensing process is accomplished by admitting to practice those lawyers licensed in one of the states and in good standing in their home state.

Mr. Soll said such system avoids having an assistant attorney general on the island who cannot practice law for a substantial period of his/her appointment since the bar examination is only offered twice a year.
“Any other procedure would be wasteful and inefficient,” he said.

It will be recalled that Mr. Dollison recently filed a civil case before the Superior Court against former Finance Secretary Antonio R. Cabrera seeking the recovery of some $74,0000 which he allegedly misappropriated during his term of office.