UPDATE: Josh Gerstein has the statement from Paul Clement , who’s moving to another firm to continue the case.
This is a big win for gay groups – King and Spalding, whose attorney Paul Clement was hired by the House to defend DOMA, is dropping out of the case. The
statement
comes from spokesman Les Zuke:
Robert D. Hays, Jr., the firm’s chairman, today made the following statement:“Today the firm filed a motion to withdraw from its engagement to represent the Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group of the House of Representatives on the constitutional issues regarding Section III of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act. Last week we worked diligently through the process required for withdrawal.
“In reviewing this assignment further, I determined that the process used for vetting this engagement was inadequate. Ultimately I am responsible for any mistakes that occurred and apologize for the challenges this may have created.”
The victory comes as gay groups were getting ready to protest the firm, and after a lot of embarrassing stories about the fees that House Republicans were ready to pay.
Another, smaller victory, via Bob Barnes:
The Supreme Court on Monday turned down Virginia’s request that it rule immediately on the constitutionality of the nation’s health-care overhaul.
The decision to reject Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli II’s request for expedited review, announced routinely without elaboration or noted dissent, is not surprising. The court rarely takes up issues that have not received a full review in the nation’s appeals courts.
But this is a temporary victory. The Virginia lawsuit has been seen as a bit flimsier than the one supported by a preponderance of Republican. state attorneys general.
