AZ Gov Disses AG And Turns Immigration Laws Defense Over To Outside Counsel

Gov. Jan Brewer (R-AZ)
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Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (R) is outsourcing (sort of) the legal defense of her state’s new immigration laws.

Brewer has announced that she’ll have outside counsel defend the state against legal challenges to the laws — not the state’s Attorney General Terry Goddard, a Democrat and one of Brewer’s opponents in Arizona’s gubernatorial race.

Brewer’s announcement came Friday, and appears to have been prompted by Goddard’s private meeting with federal officials visiting the state to discuss the immigration law.

“For some inexplicable reason, the Department of Justice officials met with the Arizona Attorney General hours before meeting with the State of Arizona’s legal team, and then allowed the Attorney General to hold a press conference to discuss the meeting,” Brewer said in a statement. Brewer said that because of Goddard’s “opposition” to the new laws and his “curious coordination with the U.S. Department of Justice,” the state Legislature had given her the authority to hire her own legal defense.

“The Legislature gave me this authority because of its lack of confidence in the Attorney General’s willingness to vigorously defend this legislation that is so critical to protecting the safety and welfare of Arizona’s citizens,” Brewer said. “I will direct my legal team to defend me and the State of Arizona rather than the Attorney General in the lawsuits challenging Arizona’s immigration laws.”

For his part, Goddard said in a statement (apparently released before Brewer’s on Friday) that he would defend the laws. Goddard, who has spoken out against the laws, said he told the federal officials that “Arizona will fight back” against any challenges brought against the new measures. He urged comprehensive reform — “solutions not lawsuits.”

“It is time for members of Congress to stop dithering, stop playing partisan politics and address the problem,” Goddard said.

The TPM Polltracker Average for the race between Brewer and Goddard shows Brewer leading 47.1%-42.7%.

Brewer has enjoyed a bump in the polls since signing the law. Goddard has called the immigration laws “a tragic mistake,” but has not said he would repeal it if elected.

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