Utah lawmakers pick firms to prepare strategy for possible lawsuit in federal land takeover

Utah lawmakers inched closer to a possible lawsuit in the state's push to seize control of federal lands with the selection Tuesday of two consulting firms that will prepare a legal strategy and attempt to sway public opinion in their favor. A Utah legislative commission voted unanimously to pay up to $2 million for the work to a law firm and public policy research organization. New Orleans-based Davillier Law Group will prepare an analysis by year's end of the historical and constitutional grounds for transferring the lands, said Rep. Keven Stratton, R-Orem, chair of a commission for the stewardship of public lands. Stratton said he only expects to use a fraction of the funds allotted for the work, but said that figure has not been set yet. Davillier was selected because of its expertise in constitutional law while Logan, Utah-based Strata was chosen for its knowledge of public land issues and its "conservative mindset," Stratton said. Strata will utilize social media and Utah State University students to make sure the public has the accurate facts about why the state wants to take over operations of about 31 million acres of federal lands, or about half of the state. David Garbett, staff attorney with the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, called it a total waste of money to even consider a lawsuit that has zero chance of success. But in a presentation to the commission, Thomas Vaughn of the office of legislative research and general counsel, touted the upcoming paper as one that would become the preeminent brief in the country about state control of federal land. He highlighted that Ronald Rotunda and John W. Howard — who he called constitutional law experts —will do work on the brief...more