AGO asks court to stop lawyer from practicing in CNMI

The Attorney General’s Office yesterday asked the Superior Court to stop lawyer Bruce Jorgensen from engaging in what it said unauthorized practice of law in the Commonwealth.

Mr. Jorgensen is not a member of the CNMI Bar Association, but he is admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands.

In a motion for preliminary injunction, Assistant Attorney General David Sosebee said allowing Mr. Jorgensen to continuously practice law in the Commonwealth during his stay on the island will result in immediate and irreparable harm to the Commonwealth and its citizens.

However, Mr. Jorgensen said Superior Court Presiding Judge Edward Manibusan has thrown out the civil suit filed by Mr. Sosebee. As a result, Mr. Jorgensen will be filing a case before the federal court against Mr. Sosebee in his personal and official capacity. He will also sue other CNMI government lawyers for conspiracy to inflict emotional harm and violation his constitutional rights.

According to Mr. Sosebee, the controversial lawyer has been advising individuals in the CNMI, applying the legal principles on matters of local, federal and international law in his office which is located in the Commonwealth.
Such advice is not in conjunction with any case filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands.

Similarly, Mr. Jorgensen has filed objections to proceedings in the CNMI Superior Court despite not being licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth specifically the Hillblom case where he acted as counsel for James E. Hollman, guardian ad litem t o Vo Minh Tan.

This is an admission from Mr. Jorgensen that he is counseling individuals regarding matters in Commonwealth Court where he is not licensed, not in federal court where he is licensed.

Mr. Jorgensen’s letterhead lists a Commonwealth office, mailing address, telephone number and a fax number which Mr. Sosebee said constitutes the unauthorized practice of law in the Northern Marianas.

Mr. Sosebee asked the court to refer the matter to appropriate legal and professional authorities but not limited to the Commonwealth Supreme Court, the Commonwealth Bar Association, Hawaii Supreme Court, the Hawaii Bar Association, the Palau Supreme Court and Palau Bar Association. (LFR)