Court Opinion

ID: 9850633
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 05:00:21.948518+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:20:40.679649
License: Public Domain

KAUFMAN,
sitting by temporary assignment, concurring.
(Filed June 21, 2002)
I concur with the Court’s opinion and recognize the arduous task that was set before the Court with this case. Specifically, I fully concur with the Court’s finding that the Attorney General is the chief legal counsel for the state. The Court’s opinion strove to balance the everyday workings of governmental entities, the framework of our constitution and current legislation. The Court wanted to strike a balance between all parties and create an atmosphere where the parties could resolve any remaining issues outside the judicial forum.
However, in striking a fair balance, I feel three unresolved issues remain: the constitutionality of governmental entities hiring outside counsel despite the clear Legislative language set forth in West Virginia Code § 5-3-1 (1994); the lack of disclosure and accountability of outside attorneys representing the state’s interest; and the erosion of the Attorney General’s role as chief legal officer as a result of the cumulative effect of all the statutes that allow executive agencies to independently hue outside counsel.