New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas has announced new reforms on hiring private lawyers to file lawsuits on behalf of the attorney general's office.
Balderas on Monday unveiled new policy changes on the practice and promises to make all documents from a bidding process available to the public.
The move comes after a New York Times story in December that showed how more attorneys general were hiring private law firms to file lawsuits. The story, which featured former New Mexico Attorney General Gary King, reported that private lawyers search public records for potential cases then approach attorneys general.
State officials hire the firms to do the necessary legwork, and in return, the firms get a percentage of any money won in court cases.
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