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District Court judge says Governor/DOA/Rev and Tax can use private attorneys


by Ken Wetmore, KUAM News
Wednesday, February 09, 2005

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It marks another major blow to the Attorney General's Office fight to be the sole attorney for the entire Government of Guam. Supreme Court justices ruled the Guam International Airport Authority has the right hire its own private legal counsel. Today, the U.S. District Court magistrate judge issued a similar opinion in the Earned Income Tax Credit settlement case.

The AG's Office had asked the court to not allow private attorneys to represent Governor Felix Camacho, Department of Revenue and Taxation director Art Ilagan, and Department of Administration director Lou Perez. In his decision Judge Joaquin Manibusan said all three could maintain their private representation, but said the Attorney General would continue to represent GovGuam in the case.

Attorney Rodney Jacob with the law firm of Calvo and Clark represents Governor Camacho and said the Governor was quite pleased with the decision. On the other side, assistant attorney general Rob Weinberg told KUAM News today's decision was not what he had been expecting, saying instead of simplifying the case, the decision has only made the case more complex.

Judge Manibusan has ordered all the parties to appear in court for another hearing on issues surrounding the settlement on February 28. The hearing will be before a visiting district judge.