Already (illegally) lining up lawyers in redistricting fight

It sure looks like they are gearing up for a fight in Madison. Legislative leaders are so set for a fight over the issue of redistricting that they just couldn’t wait to drag the lawyers into it. The process of redrawing legislative boundaries has yet to even formally begin. But that fact didn’t stop Republican lawmakers from hiring private attorneys, at taxpayer expense, to represent them in anticipated legal challenges over redistricting. They hired two legal firms back in December and January, at a cost to taxpayers of more than $1 million. Turns out they were a bit premature. A judge ruled that the hiring of the law firms was illegal, because under state law, private attorneys cannot be hired before a lawsuit has been filed. They then asked the judge to put his order on hold so they can file an appeal. The judge said no, so those contracts with the lawyers have been torn up. If these lawmakers are so sure that what they do is going to lead to legal entanglements, then maybe they should consider a different course of action. Perhaps fair maps, like our neighbors in Iowa, where a bipartisan group not made up of politicians decide how legislative boundaries would be drawn. Sure seems like it would save a lot in legal fees.