PORTLAND, Maine - The Maine Supreme Judicial court heard oral arguments this morning in Gov. Paul LePage's ongoing dispute with Attorney General Janet Mills.
At issue is whether the attorney general, once she has refused to represent the governor in litigation, can limit the amount of money spent on outside counsel or involve herself in other ways.
Arguing on behalf of the governor, attorney Holly Lusk said such outside counsel must be "unfettered" by the attorney general's personal opinion. But Lusk says that is not happening in two current cases involving the Department of Health and Human Services.
"Each fee cap, each limitation on the duration of the retention agreement with the outside lawyer, each denial of a request to perform litigation tasks, all of these things impermissibly restrain the attorney-client relationship between the state and its private lawyer," Lusk said.
But the attorney representing Janet Mills says the state has not interfered with the governor's representation and that any fee caps or other limitations are advisory only.
This story will be updated.
