Record context
Current roles and prior representation matter when comparing conflict-management proposals.
Jonathan Robert “Robby” Glass Jr. is the current Chief Solicitor and says he has worked at OAG for about ten years. Joaquin “Jack” DLG Torres has more than two decades of legal practice and represented his brother, former governor and current gubernatorial candidate Ralph DLG Torres, in criminal matters. Michael N. Evangelista described nearly 30 years of public and private legal experience at the forum.
The candidates each described approaches to conflicts of interest. Their current and prior professional roles provide factual context for asking how recusals, screening, special prosecutors and public disclosure would work in practice.
Commonwealth v. Torres, 2025 MP 5 and 2025 MP 6, addressed attorney disqualification and OAG screening. The Supreme Court affirmed disqualification of named attorneys while reversing disqualification of OAG as a whole; the opinions provide primary-record context for conflict-management questions involving the office.
The same standard applies to each candidate: identify the stated rule, identify the relevant record, and ask how the rule would operate in a concrete case.
Candidate files
Claims, context, questions
Non-Partisan
Joaquin “Jack” Deleon Guerrero Torres
More than two decades in legal practice, including prior OAG and private-practice experience.
What he said at the forum
- Said repeat offenders should be treated firmly while DPS and OAG improve coordination and training.
- Said he would recuse when conflicted and use a special prosecutor or independent attorney when necessary.
- Called for faster contract review and a more visible, accessible Attorney General’s Office.
Record context
- He is the brother of gubernatorial candidate and former governor Ralph DLG Torres.
- He served as defense counsel in Ralph Torres’s criminal cases. Those cases were dismissed with prejudice in March 2026 after a civil settlement; the resolution stated it was not an admission of liability, fault, or wrongdoing.
Candidate questionHow would an elected AG structure recusals, outside-counsel appointments, and public disclosure if matters involve a governor who is also his brother or a former client?
Non-Partisan
Jonathan Robert “Robby” Glass Jr.
Current Chief Solicitor; says he has spent about ten years in OAG and has served as acting Attorney General.
What he said at the forum
- Made independence a centerpiece of his campaign and said law should apply equally.
- Said prosecutors should ensure investigations are solid before filing charges.
- Defended OAG contract-review performance during periods when he served as acting AG and proposed a full-time consumer-protection attorney.
Record context
- Glass is running to lead the same institution in which he has spent roughly a decade and now occupies one of its senior legal positions.
- In Commonwealth v. Torres, 2025 MP 5, the Supreme Court affirmed the named individual attorney disqualifications while reversing disqualification of OAG as a whole.
- In 2025 MP 6, the Court stated that Glass and special prosecutor James Kingman could not return to prosecute the charges at issue.
Candidate questionWhich decisions or practices from your years in OAG best demonstrate the independence, transparency and conflict-management standards you propose to use as Attorney General, and what would you change?
Non-Partisan
Michael “Mike” Norita Evangelista
Nearly 30 years of public and private legal experience, according to his forum presentation.
What he said at the forum
- Emphasized integrity, accessibility, transparency, and community safety.
- Said politically sensitive matters should be handled quickly and independently.
- Said recusal is appropriate when an actual conflict or appearance of impropriety requires it.
Record context
- His campaign case relies heavily on professional breadth and stated principles rather than current OAG leadership.
- Public scrutiny should focus on how those principles translate into concrete charging, conflict, contracting, disclosure, and management rules.
Candidate questionWhat specific operating rules would convert broad commitments to integrity and transparency into measurable OAG practice?
Forum comparison
Same questions, side by side
| Issue | Joaquin Torres | Jonathan Glass | Michael Evangelista |
|---|
| Charging standards | Firm treatment for repeat offenders; improve DPS/OAG coordination and training. | Solid investigations first; measure evidence against each element before charging. | Community safety first; treatment and rehabilitation where appropriate. |
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| Conflicts | Recuse and appoint special prosecutor / independent attorney when necessary. | Separate conflicted attorneys from matters and use safeguards. | Recuse for actual conflict or appearance of impropriety when called for. |
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| Government contracts | Streamline reviews; argued delays can discourage investment. | Review for procurement compliance; disputed a broad backlog based on his acting-AG periods. | Ensure legal spending and fair treatment of bidders; delays can affect economy. |
|---|
| Public trust | More visible and accessible AG’s office. | Equal application of law; procurement level playing field; consumer-protection attorney. | Handle politically sensitive matters quickly and independently. |
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How to read this page
Candidate statements are attributed to published forum coverage. Court holdings are identified separately as primary legal records. CNMI Politics labels analysis as analysis and does not convert accusations, audit exceptions, conflicts, dismissed charges or court procedural rulings into findings they do not establish.