Two out-of-state law firms cash in on Texas taxpayers
According to the office of Texas Comptroller Susan Combs, Attorney General Abbott spent over $1.5 million dollars in taxpayer funds to cover out-of-state legal counsel from May 9, 2012 to February 6, 2013. Over $1 million went to a single Chicago-based firm who unsuccessfully defended the State’s redistricting maps before a three-judge federal court in Washington, D.C. Another approximately $500,000 went to a Washington, D.C. firm to support Texas arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Fig. 1: Payments to Chicago-based Bartlit, Beck, Herman, Palenchar & Scott LLP
Fig. 2: Payments to D.C.-based Bancroft PLLC
See original documents here.
Abbott’s and out-of-state lawyers = lose, lose & lose for Texas taxpayers
Greg Abbott has put Texas taxpayers in a no win situation.
- First, Abbott has forced Texas taxpayers to cover the cost of high-priced out-of-state attorneys to do legal work that could, and should, be performed by lawyers already on the AG’s payroll.
- Second, the high-priced, out-of-state attorneys are arguing to use redistricting maps that racially discriminate against millions of Texas voters.
- Finally, the high-priced, out-of-state attorneys aren’t very good. The Chicago legal team argued for weeks before a three-judge federal court in Washington, D.C. in defense of the Texas maps. The judges, two of which were appointed by Republican presidents, ruled unanimously against them. During arguments, the lead attorney for the out-of state firm exposed his ignorance of basic Texas government when he said:
“I believe all of the statewide office holders in Texas are partisan, so they’re party elections. I’m not from Texas so I’m not a one hundred percent sure of that.” – Adam Mortara, an attorney from the Chicago-based law firm Bartlit, Beck, Herman, Palenchar & Scott.
