Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Legal Appeal topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Legislative Council authorizes appeal of superior court ruling and increases outside counsel cap
Summary
The Legislative Council voted 11–1 to authorize an appeal to the Alaska Supreme Court of an Anchorage Superior Court decision in Legislative Council v. Taylor et al. and approved a $120,000 increase to the outside counsel contract with Stoll Reeves, bringing the cap to $230,000.
The Legislative Council on March 12 authorized an appeal to the Alaska Supreme Court of an Anchorage Superior Court decision in Legislative Council v. Taylor et al. and approved an increase to its outside counsel contract with Stoll Reeves, voting 11 to 1 to move forward.
The action, moved by Senator Stevens and approved after a roll-call vote, adds $120,000 to the existing contract for a total not to exceed $230,000 to cover legal services and appeal costs related to litigation over appropriations made in fiscal years 2021 and 2022.
Chief counsel Megan Wallace summarized the immediate issue on the record. “On Feb. 18, 2025, we received a decision from the Anchorage Superior Court concluding that the lawsuit was moot, and granting the attorney general’s motion for summary judgment, which will result in dismissal of the case,” Wallace said. She described the underlying litigation as relating to appropriations and outside legal contracts tied to a prior court decision referenced in the record.
Senator Stevens moved the appeal and the contract amendment and requested a roll-call vote. The roll call produced 11 yeas and 1 nay; Representative Kopp cast the lone no vote. The recorded yes votes were: Representative Kerrick, Speaker Edgmon, Representative Prox, Representative Shroggy, Representative Stutes, Senator Clayman, Senator Giesel, Senator Grama Jackson, Senator Kiel, Vice Chair Stevens and Chair Hannon. Representative Kopp voted no.
Before the roll call, the council had gone into executive session under Uniform Rule 22(b)(1) and 22(b)(3) to receive a briefing and consider the appeal. The executive-session attendee list placed on the record included several legislative staff members and outside counsel representatives; the motion naming attendees was made before the public roll call.
With the motion adopted, the council directed the increase to the contract with Stoll Reeves to cover the costs of filing and pursuing the appeal. No additional amendments or contingencies were recorded on the motion.
The meeting concluded shortly after the vote and was adjourned at about 6:13 p.m.
