Opinion ID: 1429543
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The Practical Consequences of the Action

Text: In Hancock, the court held that a fourth consideration for determining whether a statute violated separation of powers could be the practical result of the blending of powers as shown by actual experience over a period of time where such evidence is available. 142 Ariz. at 405, 690 P.2d at 124 (quoting Bennett, 547 P.2d at 792). Although the amendments had been in effect for only a few months at the time the petition for special action was filed, conflict already existed. CDC claims that no real conflict exists because it is representing the Department of Corrections, its client, with its approval. The Attorney General responds that CDC is responsible for the conflict by undertaking to represent a state agency, whose representation is the responsibility of the Attorney General. Under A.R.S. § 41-192, no state agency other than the attorney general shall employ legal counsel or make an expenditure or incur an indebtedness for legal services except those agencies specifically listed in the statute. A.R.S. § 41-192(E) (Supp.1996). The Department of Corrections is not an exempted agency; therefore, it is not permitted to employ legal counsel other than the Attorney General. CDC, however, is an exempted agency under the 1996 amendment to A.R.S. § 41-192. See A.R.S. § 41-192(E)(9) (Supp.1996). Accordingly, the Department of Corrections, which is not allowed to employ outside counsel under A.R.S. § 41-192, may now employ outside counsel through CDC. A conflict exists because the agency is required to use the Attorney General, and therefore is represented by the Attorney General, but the agency is also represented by CDC, which is not required to use the Attorney General. This result creates more than a theoretical conflict, as is evidenced by the present conflict in federal court between the Attorney General and CDC.