Board committee authorizes $150,000 add to outside counsel contract amid DOJ matters

The Law, Safety and Justice Committee voted to increase the not-to-exceed amount on a contract with outside counsel Miller & Chevalier by $150,000 to continue legal services related to an ongoing U.S. Department of Justice investigation.

Sarah Davis of the Hennepin County Attorney's Office told commissioners the addition of $150,000 is to the not-to-exceed amount of an existing contract with Miller & Chevalier. "This is about adding a $150,000 to the not to exceed amount of a contract that already exists for, with Miller and Chevalier," Davis said. The committee approved the increase by voice vote; the transcript records some commissioners spoke in favor and one commissioner stated they would not support the motion.

Why it matters: County leadership said the outside counsel contract supplements in-house counsel while the county navigates a federal investigation. Supporters described the use of outside counsel as standard practice for complex matters and said the county selected a firm judged cost-effective among proposals. A commissioner who opposed the measure said they were uneasy about prolonged adversarial postures with federal authorities and preferred focusing on county constituents.

Details: The amendment extends the contract end date to June 30, 2026, and increases the not-to-exceed amount by $150,000. Committee discussion included acknowledgment that outside counsel was engaged because of the DOJ investigation; commissioners who voiced support stressed the need to protect the county's legal interests and the prosecutor's office.

Next steps: The committee approved the amendment; the county attorney's office will proceed with the contract modification.