The Guam Bar Association’s Board of Governors expressed strong concern Thursday over remarks by Attorney General Douglas Moylan accusing members of the Bar of being in a “cabal” and criticizing their participation in the legislative process.
In a statement, the Bar said it felt “compelled” to respond, stressing the importance of civic engagement and the legal community’s role in improving laws. With 451 members, the organization noted its “wealth of legal knowledge and experience in evaluating the benefits and adverse effects of proposed laws that will affect every person on Guam.”
The Bar emphasized that attorneys are routinely invited to provide input on legislation, calling it a civic responsibility and constitutional right. “It is the right of every citizen to participate in the lawmaking process without being subjected to disparagement and public shaming for exercising their rights,” the statement read.
While acknowledging Moylan’s individual right to free speech, the Bar warned that his comments — made in an official capacity — undermine public trust. “He must speak for the legal interests of all people of Guam, not just himself,” the statement said, adding that Moylan’s remarks “set a dangerous precedent that undermines open debate, discourages civic participation and weakens democracy.”