Good help is hard to come by, they say, even when it’s from the most prominent attorney in the state.
Attorney General Gentner Drummond recently asked the Oklahoma Legislature to give him the power to represent Gov. Kevin Stitt in a lawsuit filed against him and the U.S. Department of the Interior by four tribes over casino gaming compacts. Drummond has called the fight “a waste of state resources.”
The governor’s office, meanwhile, seems to think being represented by Drummond would be an ill-advised gamble and has outright rejected the move. The arguments for either side of this issue fall well into the technical, with Stitt general counsel Trevor Pemberton citing the Oklahoma Rules of Professional Conduct heavily in a response letter to legislative leaders.
I’m not much of a gambler myself, and I’m even less of a lawyer. Should I split a pair of fours at the blackjack table? Should I file a motion for summary judgment in court? Beats me. Roll the dice and let it rip. Buy the ticket, take the ride. Etc. Etc.
Like many Oklahomans, my biggest frustration with this incredibly boring game of craps between the Stitt administration and tribal nations is that Oklahoma has not yet managed to legalize sports betting at a time when states around the country are finally doing so.
In court and in sport, I realize that many people look for a way to tip the odds in their favor. As far as this litigation goes, it appears Stitt thinks that means working with someone other than Drummond.
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Dunkin’ on each other for ‘Donuts with the Governor’
Oklahoma’s turnpike expansion plan faces road blocks
Easter Sundaze: Trying to save a dime in the egg aisle
Preserving Hafer Park memories: Welcome to paradise
Oklahoma’s Broadband Office and the mystery of missing meeting minutes
March Madness 2023: So your bracket is in shambles
Will the Oklahoma House lock in Daylight Saving Time?
SQ 820: We’ve got another election on our hands
Cockfighting fight turns back time at Oklahoma Capitol
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Last week on This Old Attorney General’s Office
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Here’s looking at you, me: The two jobs of Ryan Walters
Compared to recent years, 2022 seemed tolerable
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This season includes new adventures in OU tailgating
SQ 820: Don’t bogart that initiative petition, my friend
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New OKC arena proposal benefits from public discussion
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Gov. Kevin Stitt asks Auditor Cindy Byrd for a TPS report
Epic affidavit makes for light reading over lunch
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Overtime: The match continues with special sessions
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It’s a tough life being ‘The Patriot’
