Gov. Holcomb's lawyers could bill nearly $200K for suit against legislature

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indiana governor's office has signed a contract paying a law firm up to nearly $200,000 for challenging the increased power state legislators gave themselves to intervene during public health emergencies.

The governor's office released the contract with Indianapolis firm Lewis Wagner on Monday for representing Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb in the lawsuit against the Legislature that it filed in April.

The contract, however, wasn't signed until July 23 after a Marion County judge rejected arguments from Republican state Attorney General Todd Rokita that he had the legal authority to prevent Holcomb from hiring private lawyers for the case.

The state Supreme Court also ruled against Rokita.