by Mindy Aguon

Guam - Former governor Carl Gutierrez may have agreed to drop his lawsuit against the Guam Election Commission over the 2010 gubernatorial election and the matter was dismissed with prejudice but apparently the case isn't over just yet. District Court Judge John Coughenour issued an order today saying after further review, he determined that the GEC did not sign off on the stipulation.

Additionally he found that attorneys for the commission and Gutierrez failed to comply with the court's previous order and both counsels must now explain to the court why they should not be sanctioned for failing to comply. The judge will allow the parties to file a stipulation of dismissal signed by both Gutierrez and the GEC in lieu of responding to the courts notice for sanctions.

As we reported Gutierrez dropped his lawsuits in the Superior and District Courts after his former running mate, Senator Frank Aguon, Jr., dropped out of the lawsuits resulting in their legal counsel having to be removed from the case due to the disagreement. The responses or stipulation is due to the court in seven days.