In most states, post-redistricting litigation is a foregone conclusion. In anticipation of just that, the Majority Leader of the Wisconsin Senate and the Speaker of the House entered into contracts for legal services with two law firms on behalf of the legislature in preparation for inevitable legal challenges after maps are enacted. On Wednesday, a group of citizens sued on behalf of taxpayers to void those contracts as unauthorized expenditures of public funds.
At issue is a state statute that allows the speaker and majority leader to obtain legal counsel other than from the Wisconsin department of justice, with the cost of representation paid from public funds “in any action in which the [Assembly or Senate,] is a party or in which the interests of the [Assembly or Senate,] are affected, as determined by the [Speaker of the Assembly or the Senate Majority Leader, respectively].” The suing parties, however, contend that this statute does not allow obtaining outside legal counsel for “anticipated” litigation.
Read news coverage on: Madision.com, and WIZM.
