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Baka to be named as Gregory’s replacement
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Posted on Oct 09 2008
Deputy attorney general Gregory Baka will soon be appointed to officially serve as the Commonwealth’s attorney general.
Baka has held the position in an acting capacity since former attorney general Matthew Gregory resigned in late September. Gov. Benigno R. Fitial yesterday said he wants Baka to have the position permanently.
Asked what he thinks of his pending nomination, Baka said, “It really depends upon the Senate. I will do what the Senate wants.”
The Senate must approve any nomination for attorney general.
Senate President Pete P. Reyes and Sen. Paterno Hocog, who is chairman of the Senate Committee on Executive Appointments and Government Investigations, could not be reached for comment at press time.
Sen. Paul A. Manglona, a member of the EAGI Committee, declined to comment on Baka’s unofficial appointment. He said the committee will definitely conduct a public hearing before taking action on any AG nomination.
Baka has worked at the CNMI Office of the Attorney General for almost three years. He joined the office in March 2006 as an assistant attorney general, and was appointed deputy attorney general in July 2006.
Before that, Baka ran his own law firm for two years—from 2004 to 2006. He worked as assistant U.S. attorney for the District of the Northern Mariana Islands from September 1997 to February 2004.
Baka attended the U.S. Naval Academy from 1975 to 1979. He obtained his law degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law in 1989.
