Attorney General Gentner Drummond has taken decisive action in a legal dispute involving Governor Kevin Stitt, terminating the contract with a law firm hired by the Governor. The conflict centers on a proposed lawsuit settlement aimed at saving Oklahoma millions of dollars and ensuring justice for crime victims.
Drummond informed Governor Stitt that he is ending the agreement with William “Bill” O’Connor from Hall Estill law firm. O’Connor was contracted to represent Allie Friesen, commissioner of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS), and Debbie Moran, executive director of the Oklahoma Forensic Center, in the case Briggs et al. v. Friesen et al.
Asserting his constitutional authority as the state's chief law officer, Drummond emphasized his role in overseeing litigation involving the state. "Based on our many previous disagreements, you are undoubtedly aware by now that the Oklahoma Supreme Court has squarely held: ‘The Attorney General, by statute … is the Chief Law Officer of the State,'" Drummond stated.
He further clarified that his client is "the State of Oklahoma, not Commissioner Friesen and Executive Director Moran in their individual capacities." Drummond pledged to continue representing them in their official roles.
In addition to terminating the contract, Drummond filed a motion to remove appearances by O’Connor and other attorneys from Hall Estill from the litigation.
The case Briggs v. Friesen alleges ODMHSAS violated due process rights by not providing timely competency restoration services for some pretrial defendants deemed incompetent to stand trial. This delay has resulted in postponed justice for crime victims. Other states have faced significant financial penalties in similar cases.
A consent decree negotiated between Drummond's office and plaintiffs' attorneys proposes improvements to ODMHSAS’ restoration services. Despite this plan not being finalized, Governor Stitt convened a Contingency Review Board last month which rejected it with a 2-0 vote. Following this decision, Friesen attempted unsuccessfully to dismiss Drummond from the case.