Camacho, a lawyer, said the AG is the attorney of the CNMI and its people.
House Bill 16-128, also known as the Attorney General Fiduciary Act of 2008, is expected to be introduced during today’s session.
“The Legislature…finds that while the attorney general has a responsibility to provide legal advice to the governor, such advice should be based on sound legal analysis and not be tailored to accomplish the goals and objectives of the governor,” the bill stated.
“It is necessary to impose a fiduciary duty on the attorney general thereby prohibiting the attorney general from advancing the interests of the governor over the interest and well-being of the people of the commonwealth,” it added.
Camacho said he was prompted to introduce the measure after reading two legal opinions of Attorney General Matthew Gregory who claimed that the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. is not part of the CNMI government.
Camacho said although the CUC is an autonomous agency it is still part of the government.
CUC has signed multi-million-dollar contracts aimed at addressing the power shortage on Saipan.
Both contracts were referred to the Attorney General’s Office before they were executed.
If Camacho’s measure becomes law, the Commonwealth Code would have three new subsections, which include a clause that reads: “Violation of this section is grounds for disbarment from practicing law in the CNMI pursuant to procedures and rules of the Commonwealth Supreme Court; a taxpayer lawsuit pursuant to Article X, Section 9 of the CNMI Constitution; and/or other legal and equitable measures.”
