Post by Logan on May 10, 2016 1:57:59 GMT -6
RICHMOND — Virginia taxpayers have so far spent $3.7 million on private attorneys in three ongoing redistricting lawsuits, as well as a fourth case targeting the state’s voter identification law.
The costs are largely due to the hiring of private firms with expertise in niche areas of the law, as well as an unwillingness on behalf of the General Assembly’s Republican majority to have Democratic Attorney General Mark Herring represent them, The Daily Press reported.
Herring’s office has hired outside counsel to represent the State Board of Elections in two cases because it needs help dealing with the paperwork-heavy cases, the office said.
The costs will continue to grow for months, said House Speaker William Howell as he blamed what he called the plaintiffs’ partisan aims.
Read more: www.fredericksburg.com/news/va_md_dc/taxpayer-costs-approach-m-in-virginia-election-lawsuits/article_6e014a8d-7bce-52fe-9b5f-308d55d1e123.html
The costs are largely due to the hiring of private firms with expertise in niche areas of the law, as well as an unwillingness on behalf of the General Assembly’s Republican majority to have Democratic Attorney General Mark Herring represent them, The Daily Press reported.
Herring’s office has hired outside counsel to represent the State Board of Elections in two cases because it needs help dealing with the paperwork-heavy cases, the office said.
The costs will continue to grow for months, said House Speaker William Howell as he blamed what he called the plaintiffs’ partisan aims.
Read more: www.fredericksburg.com/news/va_md_dc/taxpayer-costs-approach-m-in-virginia-election-lawsuits/article_6e014a8d-7bce-52fe-9b5f-308d55d1e123.html