AGO appoints outside law firm to defend Initiative 638

Attorney General Nick Brown released the following statement today regarding the state’s defense of Initiative 638:

“One of the most important duties of the Attorney General’s Office is to ensure that laws passed by the Legislature or by the voters through initiative are vigorously defended. I am deeply committed to that principle and my professional and ethical responsibilities as Washington’s chief legal officer. My personal views do not dictate what laws get defended or the strength of that defense. 

“I also recognize that over the last two years our office has done extensive work defending the rights of transgender Washingtonians. We have brought and won important cases against the federal government to protect access to vital healthcare services, and we have vigorously defended state laws that give transgender people equal protection under Washington law. We will not and cannot abandon that work. And while voters have passed a law changing our state’s approach to school sports, many other laws remain on the books that protect the rights of transgender people in a wide range of contexts. 

“I have therefore decided to appoint an outside law firm, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (BCLP), to defend Initiative 638 on behalf of Washington state. Appointing outside counsel—known as a Special Assistant Attorney General—is a common step we take when our office cannot handle a case ourselves, whether because of a conflict of interest, a need for specialized expertise, or simply because of workload. BCLP is a well-respected national law firm with a substantial presence in Washington state. The firm’s attorneys have handled many important cases on behalf of the state previously. I am confident that this approach will best ensure that I-638 is appropriately defended in a way that its supporters can have confidence in, while also allowing our office to continue our other important work defending transgender rights.

“My highest obligation is to Washingtonians, and I am confident that this approach best respects their will.”

-30-

Washington’s Attorney General serves the people and the state of Washington. As the state’s largest law firm, the Attorney General’s Office provides legal representation to every state agency, board, and commission in Washington. Additionally, the Office serves the people directly by enforcing consumer protection, civil rights, and environmental protection laws. The Office also prosecutes elder abuse, Medicaid fraud, and handles sexually violent predator cases in 38 of Washington’s 39 counties.

Visit www.atg.wa.gov to learn more.

Media Contact:

Email: press@atg.wa.gov

Phone: (360) 753-2727

General contacts: Click here

Media Resource Guide & Attorney General’s Office FAQ

Legal Disclaimer:

EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.