Curtis Van de Veld has resigned as chief prosecutor of the Office of the Attorney General of Guam. A resignation letter dated June 23, 2026, cites issues related to his work with the OAG and "mixed personal objectives" that led him to the decision.

Long before taking on the position, Van de Veld served as a private attorney with a number of existing clients, many of whom he had represented for years.

"I wanted to do what I could to close out their problems for which they had hired me to assist them many years ago in order for them to avoid unnecessary expense of hiring a new lawyer to learn the history of their cases which could be a large sum of money," Van de Veld said in his resignation letter to Attorney General Douglas Moylan.

When Van de Veld was initially brought on part-time as a special assistant to the AG, issues arose that created problems with his production-based compensation.

"Governor Lourdes Leon Guerrero refused to approve the agreement in order for me to get paid through the Department of Administration and there are five months for which I remained unpaid," Van de Veld said, adding that despite the nonpayment, he continued to assist the OAG.

He contended that because of the governor's refusal to approve his compensation contract, he became a "direct employee" of the OAG as chief prosecutor working with the General Crimes Division — but that led to further complications.

"This led me to being subject to a Guam Supreme Court decision that under 5 GCA 30113 I cannot continue to finish my outside employment activities to assist those people whose cases I have been involved in as their attorney, in some cases for more than a decade or two," Van de Veld said.

He said that while the law allows for pro bono work based on a 2011 legislative exemption, the Guam Supreme Court determined that cases involving previously charged clients — even if not charged for services going forward — are barred from the exemption.

Van de Veld said he has exhausted options to help existing clients secure other legal counsel, but "due to the shortage of lawyers in our community, this has not been possible."

"I want to do right for everyone. While I would like to wind down on my legal career working to advance the vision you have for the welfare of the people of Guam, I must choose to finish the work for which people entrusted me with their problems over my working career," Van de Veld said.

Citing "mixed personal objectives," Van de Veld elected "to persist in representing" his longer-standing clients who are unable to find new legal representation.

"If I ignore my former clients and their inability to hire a lawyer, those people will be more severely affected. Hence, I am compelled to do what I believe to be the most honorable for the profession of lawyering and assist those who long ago trusted me to protect their interests," Van de Veld told Moylan.

His resignation is effective "end of first payroll period of July 2026."