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Judge Tosses Out LePage’s Lawsuit Against Maine Attorney General

A judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by Maine Gov. Paul LePage against Attorney General Janet Mills. At issue was Mills’ refusal to pay for LePage’s legal costs to weigh in on the federal battle over President Donald Trump’s executive orders on immigration.

When he filed the lawsuit last spring, LePage told the court he believed Mills must either represent him in the federal courts or pay for the attorneys he would use to make his arguments. Mills responded that she had no obligation to represent the governor and cited past court opinions to back her up.

In fact, Mills signed on to a friend of the court brief with several other states opposing the Trump executive orders.

Kennebec County Superior Court Justice Michaela Murphy dismissed LePage’s lawsuit, saying that the court does not have the constitutional authority to order Mills to pay for LePage’s legal costs. She also ruled the case moot since the executive orders in question have been replaced by new orders.

The governor could appeal the case to the state Supreme Court.

Journalist Mal Leary spearheads Maine Public's news coverage of politics and government and is based at the State House.