Ernest told the Variety he’s officially assuming his new post on July 1.
“I will be assigned to the civil division [of the Attorney General’s Office] and will also assume the responsibilities of the commonwealth’s consumer counsel. My understanding is that the position has been vacant since the departure of Brian Caldwell, and that [acting Attorney General] Greg Baka has been filling in as needed for the past few years.”
A graduate of Marquette University in Milwaukee Wisconsin in 2001, Ernest first worked for a small law firm in the state before moving to Saipan the following year as law clerk for Justice John A. Manglona.
He moved to the Legislature as Senate legal counsel in 2004.
“I am honored to have been able to serve for the past five years the Senates of the Fourteenth, Fifteenth and Sixteenth Northern Marianas Legislatures. In this time, I have learned a great deal and grown professionally and personally,” he said.
“I am excited about the change and look forward to broadening my legal skills. I expect I will focus more on litigation than I have in recent years,” he added.
As the new consumer counsel, Ernest said he will try to serve consumers and businesses.
A hotline will be set up to allow consumers to phone in their complaints about products or services that they think are not in accordance with the law.
Businesses too will have the same opportunity.
“I think the position of consumer counsel is important, especially during times of economic uncertainty, because when people are doing more with less, it is important that they are treated fairly. Also, I feel that businesses benefit when there is a strong consumer counsel, because they will know that their competitors are being held to the law,” he said.
