The Jack Abramoff Guam investigation involves an alleged plot by lobbyist Jack Abramoff and others to control the functions of the courts in Guam. A federal grand jury investigation was halted in 2002 when the prosecutor was removed from office by the George W. Bush administration. In 2002, Abramoff was retained as a subcontractor by the Guam Superior Court to lobby against a bill proposing to put the Superior Court under the authority of the Guam Supreme Court. A sum of $324,000 was paid to Abramoff through Laguna Beach, California lawyer Howard Hills by means of 36 checks of $9,000 each.