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Holley named special prosecutor in traffic case against Zarones
Matthew Holley was appointed Friday as special prosecutor to handle the traffic case against Office of the Attorney General Chief Solicitor James M. Zarones.
Superior Court Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho ordered the OAG to pay Holley at his regular hourly rate.
On Friday, Superior Court’s clerk of court Patrick V. Diaz had requested to be recused as his family member is a potential witness.
The day before, Camacho disqualified the OAG from prosecuting Zarones, saying the OAG cannot prosecute its own.
Camacho ordered the clerk of court to go through the list of NMI Bar members and see if anyone is willing to be a special prosecutor in the case.
Assistant attorney general Jonathan Robert Glass Jr. has asserted that the OAG’s Criminal Division has not committed any ethical violations, nor has it violated the rules of professional conduct in prosecuting the traffic case against Zarones.
Glass said the government has sought a lawful motion to reconsider Superior Court Presiding Judge Robert C. Naraja’s order pursuant to the rules as well as CNMI Supreme Court precedent.
Naraja’s minute order directed the OAG to appoint a special prosecutor to handle Zarones’ traffic case. The OAG then moved for reconsideration of Naraja’s order.
Zarones’ last day as an employee of the OAG Civil Division will be on Dec. 26, 2016.
Zarones is accused of failing to yield the right of way to another motorist. The traffic citation was issued by a police officer on Oct. 5, 2016.
The bench trial will be on Dec. 21, 2016 at 2:30pm.
