Edward Buckingham

Edward Taylor Buckingham, III
former Attorney General of the Northern Mariana Islands
In office Mon., 17 August 2009 – Mon., 13 August 2012
Preceded by	Matthew T. Gregory
Succeeded by	Joey Patrick San Nicolas
Personal details
Alma mater	University of California, Berkeley University of Denver
Profession	Lawyer

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

Career

Then-CNMI Assistant Attorney General Buckingham was nominated by Governor Benigno Fitial on August 12, 2009.^[1] He was unanimously confirmed by the CNMI Senate two days later,^[2] and was sworn in at the cabinet meeting on August 17, 2009. He succeeded Deputy Attorney General Gregory Baka, who had been acting Attorney General since September 28, 2008,^[3] and Attorney General Matthew T. Gregory. Citing family matters, on August 1, 2012 he announced his resignation, with his last day of work on August 3, 2012, to be followed by 30 days annual leave.^[4] He was succeeded on August 13, 2012 by acting Attorney General Ellsbeth Viola Alepuyo,^[5] and then on October 23, 2012 by Attorney General Joey Patrick San Nicolas,^[6] who was confirmed by the Senate on November 16, 2012.

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 CNMI Office of the Public Auditor. The charges involved multiple instances of misconduct and corruption while serving as the CNMI 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 CNMI Superior Court Associate Judge David Wiseman for Buckingham's arrest.^[7]

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.^[8]

Buckingham was arrested in Colorado, and returned to Saipan for criminal prosecution.^[9]

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. "Torres turns down offer to be attorney general". Saipan Tribune. May 12, 2009. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
4. Eugenio, Haidee (August 2, 2012). "Attorney General Buckingham Announces Resignation". Saipan Tribune. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
5. Eugenio, Haidee (August 14, 2012). "Attorney General Tenders Second Resignation". Saipan Tribune. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
6. Eugenio, Haidee (October 24, 2012). "Governor Nominates San Nicolas As Attorney General". Saipan Tribune. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
7. Ferdie, De la Torre (August 7, 2012). "Wiseman Issues $50,000 Bench Warrant for Buckingham". Saipan Tribune. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
8. Erediano, Emmanuel (1 March 2013). "Inos asks Iowa to extradite Buckingham". Marianas Variety. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
9. de la Torre, Ferdie (May 29, 2013). "Buckingham returns, arrested". Saipan Tribune. Retrieved September 5, 2013.