OAG hires new assistant attorneys general

The Office of the Attorney General announces the addition of two new attorneys, John Cook and Michael Witry.

From left, Assistant Attorney General John Cook, Deputy Attorney General Lillian A. Tenorio, Attorney General Edward Manibusan, and Assistant Attorney General Michael Witry.
(OAG)

Cook is no stranger to the Commonwealth. In 2007, he came to the CNMI to serve as a law clerk for then-associate justice Alexandro C. Castro of the CNMI Supreme Court. Later, from December 2010 to July 2012, Cook served as the CNMI archivist at Northern Marianas College, where he also taught criminal justice as an adjunct instructor.

Before returning to the Commonwealth to join the Office of the Attorney General, Cook served as a law clerk for Judge Frank Whitney of the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina and Judge Landya McCafferty of the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire. While clerking for Judge Whitney, he also taught professional responsibility as an adjunct assistant professor at Charlotte Law School.

Attorney General Edward Manibusan declares, “We are happy to have John back at the Office of the Attorney General. I couldn’t be more proud of his decision to return and serve the people of the CNMI.”

Cook received his bachelor’s degree in political science from Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut in 1999, his master’s degree in criminology and criminal justice from Oxford University in Oxford, England in 2002, and his law degree from Duke University School of Law in Durham, North Carolina in 2004.

Regarding his appointment as an assistant attorney general, Cook said “It’s wonderful to be back in the Commonwealth. I’m very excited and honored to be a member of the Attorney General’s staff.”

Witry, meanwhile, joins the OAG with seven years of experience as a staff attorney. His previous job was with the Commonwealth Law Revision Commission where he started in 2013. During his tenure with Law Revision, Witry served as deputy to the attorney for the CNMI Judiciary performing research and writing on legal issues. He completed the first comprehensive update of the CNMI’s administrative regulations since 2008, and developed the web site for the CNMI Administrative Code.

“Our office has gained an additional attorney with a remarkable background in the legal field,” says AG Manibusan. “A warm welcome to Michael,” adds the AG.

Before moving to the CNMI, Witry worked for Idaho Legal Aid Services, where he represented low-income victims of domestic violence in divorce, custody, and civil protection order cases. Witry’s work in the civil division at OAG will include administrative law, contract and legislation review, and litigation.

“I’m grateful to Attorney General Manibusan for giving me the opportunity to join his office, and I’m ready to do my best for the Commonwealth,” Witry said.

Witry earned his Bachelor of Arts in History in 2002 from the University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa. In 2008, he received his Juris Doctor from the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho. (OAG)