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Edward Eladio Manibusan is a Northern Marianan attorney and politician serving as the first elected Attorney General of the Northern Mariana Islands. He took office on January 12, 2015. He previously served in the position from July 1, 1989 to January 8, 1990 when it was a gubernatorial appointment.

Early life and education

He graduated from Marianas High School in 1972.[3] He attended the University of Guam from 1972 to 1975 where he earned an associate's degress in political science.[4] Manibusan graduated from California State University at Fullerton with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Law in 1977. He then attended Gonzaga University School of Law and graduated in 1982.[1]

Legal career

After graduating law school, Manibusan became a public defender. One year later, he was made an assistant attorney general assigned to the criminal division.[1] In 1986, Governor Pedro Pangelinan Tenorio appointed Manibusan, the Director of the Department of Public Safety. Manibusan was sworn in as DPS director on November 14, 1986.[5]

He was the appointed Attorney General from 1989 to 1990. He was an Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands from February 1993 to July 1998,[6] the Presiding Judge of the NMI Superior Court from July 1998 to March 2003,[6] and an attorney in solo private practice. Prior to the election he also held an honorary appointment as the Civilian Aide to the United States Secretary of the Army for the CNMI.[7]

In 1998, Judge Procter Ralph Hug Jr. of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit appointed Manibusan to hold district court in the District of the Northern Mariana Islands during the period beginning Jan. 26, 1998 and ending December 31, 1998.[8]

Interim

Manibusan retired from active government service on March 14, 2003.[2] In 2012, he became the chairman of the reorganized Democratic Party of the Northern Mariana Islands.[9] In that capacity he worked to rebuild ties with the Democratic National Committee, achieving such recognition at the 2012 Democratic National Convention.[10] He also sought to ensure the party ran a gubernatorial candidate in the 2014 election, after it failed to do so in 2009.[11] He was succeeded as party chairman by Benjamin M. Cepeda.[12]

Attorney General

The Attorney General, previously an appointed position, became an elected position effective for the 2014 general election.[13] Manibusan was elected in 2014, defeating attorney Michael Evangelista by about a two to one margin.[14] Manibusan succeeded Gilbert Birnbrich, who was appointed by Governor Eloy Inos five months before the election.[13] He was reelected in 2018, without opposition.[15] In 2022, Manibusan defeated former judge Juan Tudela Lizama by approximately ten points to be reelected Attorney General.[16]

Electoral history

2024 CNMI Attorney General election (non-partisan)[17]
Party Candidate Votes %
Independent Edward Manibusan 8,599 64.99%
Independent Michael Norita Evangelista 4,672 31.31%
Total votes 13,231 100.00%
2018 CNMI Attorney General election (non-partisan)[18]
Party Candidate Votes %
Independent Edward Manibusan (incumbent) 11,366 100.00%
Total votes 11,366 100.00%
2022 CNMI Attorney General election (non-partisan)[19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Independent Edward Manibusan (incumbent) 7,524 55.17%
Independent Juan Tudela Lizama 6,113 44.83%
Total votes 13,637 100.00%

References

  1. ^ a b c "Manibusan named Assistant AG". Marianas Variety. Vol. 12, no. 37. December 2, 1983. p. 13. Retrieved April 14, 2024 – via eVols.
  2. ^ a b c Manglona, Paul (April 3, 2003). "Senate Resolution 13-40" (PDF). Journal of the Senate. Northern Mariana Islands Senate. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  3. ^ Hofschneider, Heinz S. (March 6, 2003). "House Resolution No. 13-115" (PDF). CNMI House Journal. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  4. ^ "Manibusan to work with police". Marianas Variety. Vol. 6, no. 18. September 22, 1977. p. 9. Retrieved April 14, 2024 – via eVols.
  5. ^ "Finally, Manibusan takes DPS oath". Marianas Variety. Vol. 15, no. 37. November 21, 1986. p. 7. Retrieved April 14, 2024 – via eVols.
  6. ^ a b "Northern Mariana Islands Judiciary, Former Judges" (PDF). May 25, 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 29, 2019. Retrieved September 22, 2016.
  7. ^ Eugenio, Haidee (February 10, 2014). "Manibusan to run for AG". Saipan Tribune. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  8. ^ de la Torre, Ferdie (February 10, 1998). "Manibusan named US Court special judge". Marianas Variety. Vol. 25, no. 232. p. 9. Retrieved April 14, 2024 – via eVols.
  9. ^ "Democrats extend deadline for candidates". Marianas Variety. July 13, 2012. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
  10. ^ "NMI Democrats to have 6 delegates to DNC". Marianas Variety. September 12, 2012. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
  11. ^ Erediano, Emmanuel (September 3, 2013). "NMI Democrats now active in national party". Marianas Variety.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ^ Eugenio, Haidee V. (March 14, 2014). "Dems pick Deleon Guerrero-Quitugua". Saipan Tribune. Archived from the original on September 7, 2020. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
  13. ^ a b Eugenio, Haidee (August 5, 2014). "Inos appoints Birnbrich as AG". Saipan Tribune. Archived from the original on January 17, 2017. Retrieved June 26, 2016.
  14. ^ De La Torre, Freddie (November 6, 2014). "Former judge Manibusan wins over Evangelista in AG race". Saipan Tribune. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  15. ^ "2018 General Election Results".
  16. ^ Bautista Esmores, Kimberly (November 10, 2022). "Manibusan retains AG seat; 2 judges, justice are retained". Saipan Tribune. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
  17. ^ "Commonwealth Election Commission - Election 2014 Results". Archived from the original on November 30, 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  18. ^ "2018 CNMI General Election Results". Commonwealth Election Commission. Archived from the original on 2019-06-16. Retrieved 2023-06-09.
  19. ^ "2022 Official General Election and Run-Off Results". Commonwealth Election Commission. 2022-11-11. Retrieved 2023-06-04.

External links

Legal offices
Preceded by
Alexandro Castro
 Attorney General of the Northern Mariana Islands
Acting
1989–1990 		Succeeded by
Robert Naraja
Preceded by Attorney General of the Northern Mariana Islands
2015–present 		Incumbent
Party political offices
Preceded by
Party reestablished
 Chair of the Northern Mariana Islands Democratic Party
2012–2014 		Succeeded by
Benjamin M. Cepeda


source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Manibusan