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DOJ general counsel and appellate divisions outline broad legal workload and show 10% reduction slides
Summary
Department of Justice general counsel and appellate division leaders described their large workloads — over 130 attorneys in general counsel and about 60 employees in appellate work — and noted the budget packet includes 10% reduction scenarios that would cut FTEs.
Renee Steinman, chief counsel for the DOJ General Counsel Division, and Ben Gutman, solicitor general and head of the Appellate Division, gave overview testimony about the department's legal services, workforce size and the potential impacts of proposed 10% budget reductions.
General counsel overview: Steinman said the general counsel division employs about 130 assistant attorneys general and nearly 50 support staff across eight sections. The division provides day‑to‑day legal services to state agencies, drafts and reviews contracts, handles procurement and advises on whether agency actions fall within legal authority.
Appellate overview: Ben Gutman testified that the appellate division has about 60 employees and roughly 40 appellate lawyers who collectively handle about 2,000 new matters a year across criminal, civil and administrative appeals. He said appellate rulings set binding precedent and the division prepares briefs and oral arguments, and also prepares ballot titles for initiatives and referrals.
Budget reductions: Both presenters showed 10% reduction slides; Gutman noted the appellate division's primary cut lever is FTE reductions. Steinman earlier displayed a slide showing a 10% budget reduction scenario for general counsel as well. Both witnesses framed reductions in personnel as the primary mechanism for meeting the 10% target.
Ending: Both said workforce reductions would affect the department's ability to provide timely legal advice and to represent the state's interests across many agencies and proceedings.
