MADISON, Wis. (AP) _ Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel is telling state Superintendent Tony Evers he won't stop him from hiring a personal attorney to represent him in a lawsuit challenging his office's powers.
But the Republican Schimel tells Evers in a letter Friday that the Department of Justice will continue to defend the office of state superintendent in the lawsuit.
Evers is a Democrat running for governor. He has objected to Republican Gov. Scott Walker forcing him to be represented by Schimel in the lawsuit filed by the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty.
Schimel agrees with Walker's position that Evers is in violation of state law by refusing to give rule-making oversight powers to the governor. Evers argues the issue was settled by the Wisconsin Supreme Court earlier this year.