Ex-CPA legal counsel Hallahan joining House legal team
Former Commonwealth Ports Authority legal counsel Joseph Hallahan is joining the House of Representatives legal team in January 2024.
This developed as House legal counsel John Bradley decided he no longer wants to work full-time as House legal counsel.
Legislative Bureau director Perry John P. Tenorio informed Senate President Edith E. DeLeon Guerrero (D-Saipan) and House Speaker Edmund S. Villagomez (Ind-Saipan) last week that Bradley will be appointed as a part-time lawyer for the bureau. His role will be to offer legal advice and support to Tenorio, contribute to administrative functions, and concentrate on long-term legislative projects.
Tenorio said Bradley will report directly to him, delivering outcomes in the form of updated office policies, standardized contracts, drafting manual, forms, and proposed legislation.
By centralizing these legal responsibilities within a single position, Tenorio said he can enhance consistent administrative oversight and streamline the overall processing of legislative matters.
Tenorio said Bradley had sought to become a part-time House legal counsel since October 2023, but they declined his request in order to search for his replacement. That’s when they offered the position to Hallahan, as Bradley’s replacement. Tenorio said Hallahan, who was vetted by Bradley and the House’s other lawyer, Joseph Taijeron, accepted the offer.
Hallahan will begin reporting for work on Jan. 15, 2024.
In citing the need to appoint Bradley as a part-time legal counsel, Tenorio believes that certain long-term legislative projects have been relegated to the backburner for various reasons and this change will give Bradley more time to focus on these projects.
“One of the most critical factors, in my opinion, is the absence of a dedicated attorney to support and offer guidance to the LB director,” Tenorio said.
Joseph Hallahan
