Edward Buckingham

For other people named Edward Buckingham, see Edward Buckingham (disambiguation).
Edward T. Buckingham III
former Attorney General of the Northern Mariana Islands
In office
August 2009 – August 2012
Preceded by Matt Gregory
Succeeded by Joey San Nicolas
Personal details
Alma mater University of California, Berkeley
University of Denver
Profession Lawyer

Edward T. Buckingham, III is a former Attorney General of the CNMI (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands).

Career

Buckingham was nominated by former Governor Benigno Fitial on August 12, 2009.[1] He was unanimously confirmed by the Senate two days later.[2]

Criminal prosecution

In the early morning hours of August 4, 2012, Buckingham attempted to flee the CNMI while being escorted to the airport by Carolinian police personnel assigned by Governor Fitial, in an attempt to avoid looming prosecution for charges filed against him by the NMI Office of the Public Auditor. The charges involved multiple instances of misconduct and corruption while serving as the NMI's Attorney General.

However, he was intercepted by the FBI at the airport, and served a penal summons before boarding his plane. The summons required him to appear in the Superior Court on Monday, August 6, 2012. Buckingham claimed he would be back in time for his court appointment, but did not in fact return. Later on the day that he failed to appear in court, a bench warrant was subsequently issued by NMI Superior Court judge David Wiseman for Buckingham's arrest.[3]

At the end of February, 2013, Governor Eloy Inos (who assumed governorship of the CNMI after Fitial's resignation on February 20, 2013) contacted Iowa governor Terry Branstad to seek his cooperation in apprehending, detaining and extraditing Buckingham, who was believed to be located in Johnson County, Iowa.[4]

Buckingham was arrested in Colorado, and returned to Saipan for criminal prosecution.[5]

References

  1. ↑ Eugenio, Haidee (August 13, 2009). "Buckingham nominated to attorney general post". Saipan Tribune. Retrieved December 25, 2010.
  2. ↑ Eugenio, Haidee (August 15, 2009). "Senate confirms Buckingham as AG". Saipan Tribune. Retrieved December 25, 2010.
  3. ↑ Ferdie, De la Torre (August 7, 2012). "Wiseman Issues $50,000 Bench Warrant for Buckingham". Saipan Tribune. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
  4. ↑ Erediano, Emmanuel (1 March 2013). "Inos asks Iowa to extradite Buckingham". Marianas Variety. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
  5. ↑ de la Torre, Ferdie (May 29, 2013). "Buckingham returns, arrested". Saipan Tribune. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
Legal offices
Preceded by
Matt Gregory		 Attorney General of the Northern Mariana Islands
2009–2012 		Succeeded by
Joey San Nicolas


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