During yesterday’s status conference hearing, Associate Judge David A.Wiseman ordered Sablan, Gov. Benigno R. Fitial, Finance Secretary Eloy Inos and acting Attorney General Gregory Baka to file all papers and motions by March 20.
Sablan, who appeared in court without a lawyer said she will only hire counsel in case of “complications.”
“That would be the time when I may seek assistance,” she said.
Sablan, Ind.-Saipan, is seeking more information about the payments made by the governor to his Washington, D.C. lawyers in the lawsuit filed over the federalization law.
The lawsuit is already a matter of public record, Sablan said.
“I’m not sure exactly what disadvantage the CNMI would be at for information that’s already open to the public at this time,” she said.
She added that she just wants to know where the money spent for the lawsuit is coming from.
“I’d like to see the contracts that were signed and see how much has been paid to date,” she said.
“I don’t think any of these records would compromise the standing of the CNMI in any way.”
She said she is happy that the court gave priority to her petition.
Assistant Attorney General Braddock J. Huesman represented the administration.
Huesman said that they will submit all necessary documents and motions on or before March 20 before filing a motion to dismiss.
“Even if everything Sablan says is true, there isn’t any cause of action against the defendants,” Huesman said.
Last week, Sablan asked the Superior Court to order the administration to divulge how much has been spent so far to pay for the legal services of the Jenner & Block law firm which filed the federalization lawsuit on behalf of the governor in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on Sept. 12, 2008.
