RENO, Nev. (AP) — Democratic state lawmakers have said they must find new lawyers to fight for a tax extension Republicans say is unconstitutional after a judge ruling.
The Reno Gazette-Journal reported Tuesday that District Court Judge James Russell ruled Tuesday that the Legislative Counsel Bureau cannot defend their Democratic clients in a lawsuit filed by Republican clients.
Russell says the attorneys represent all elected members of the Nevada Legislature and would pose a potentially serious conflict of interest for the publicly funded agency.
Attorneys say they were entitled to represent Democratic legislative leaders named in the July suit saying it should've been directed at the state agencies charged with collecting revenues from the tax measure.
Republican officials say the tax extension requires two-thirds majority vote and is otherwise unlawful.