Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond has ended a contract with attorney William "Bill" O'Connor from the Hall Estill law firm. This decision follows Governor Stitt's selection of O'Connor to represent state officials in a civil rights lawsuit. Drummond stated that he has the constitutional authority to manage state litigation, according to a recent release from the Oklahoma Attorney General's office.
Drummond's actions came to light in a letter he sent to Gov. Stitt where he declared his jurisdiction over the case. His letter cited a clear mandate from the Oklahoma Supreme Court, stating, "The Attorney General, by statute … is the Chief Law Officer of the State. In the absence of explicit legislative or constitutional expression to the contrary, he possesses complete dominion over every litigation in which he properly appears in the interest of the State, whether or not there is a relator or some other nominal party." Drummond emphasized that he represents the State of Oklahoma, including Commissioner Friesen and Executive Director Moran in their official capacities, as reported by the Oklahoma Attorney General's office.
The lawsuit Briggs v. Friesen alleges that the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS) has violated due process by not providing timely court-ordered competency restoration services. These delays affect pretrial defendants and the prompt administration of justice. Other states facing similar issues have encountered significant financial penalties.
Drummond filed a motion to remove O'Connor and other Hall Estill attorneys from the case, reinforcing his involvement. The central issue is a consent decree intended to improve ODMHSAS' restoration services and prevent delays in justice. While the decree has not been finalized, a review board appointed by the Governor recently rejected the proposal with a 2-0 vote, increasing the conflict between Drummond and the Governor's office.
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