Lawyers Fight for Spots at Public Trough, Rep's. Egolf and Maestas Start Pushing

Albququerque Journal - As the partisan feuding continues over how much lawyers should get paid for their redistricting work, Democrats contend that Gov. Susana Martinez and other GOP officials spent significantly more on attorneys than they disclosed to a judge.

Lawyers for Democratic legislators say an Inspection of Public Records Act request turned up $162,730 that was paid to a Washington, D.C., law firm but has not been reported to retired state District Judge James Hall.

Hall, who presided over trials to draw new boundaries for legislative, U.S. House and Public Regulation Commission districts, is in the process of deciding how much the lawyers for six groups of plaintiffs – Democrats, Republicans and Indian tribes – should be paid. Their billings total more than $3 million.

Martinez, Lt. Gov. John Sanchez and Secretary of State Dianna Duran are trying to persuade the judge to award the lawyers for Democrats and a group of tribes less than they’re asking for, calling their requests “excessive” and “shocking.”
Lawyers for Democratic Reps. Brian Egolf of Santa Fe and Antonio “Moe” Maestas of Albuquerque asked Hall last week to be allowed to file a supplemental brief. Read full story here (subscription required) News New Mexico

Lawyers Fight for Spots at Public Trough, Rep's. Egolf and Maestas Start Pushing