PENNSYLVANIA: Governor Hires Outside Attorney To Fight Marriage Lawsuit

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett has hired an outside attorney to defend against the marriage equality lawsuit brought in July. Because state Attorney General Kathleen Kane won't do it.

William Lamb, a Republican and founding partner of the West Chester-based firm Lamb McErlane, is one of the most prominent figures in that Pennsylvania legal community having served on the state Supreme Court and as district attorney for Chester County. Corbett's general counsel James Schultz said the "unique circumstances" of this case compelled the Office of General Counsel to retain expert assistance in this case. “The Office of General Counsel provides comprehensive legal services to numerous state agencies and executives, but we do not typically defend cases that solely challenge the constitutionality of a statute,” Schultz said. “Who better than a former Supreme Court Justice and his firm to assist in addressing this type of fundamental question?”

Lamb will earn $400/hour and members of his team will bill the state $325/hour each.

RELATED: The GOP ended up paying $3M (in federal money) to an outside firm to defend against Edith Windsor's successful lawsuit to overturn DOMA.