GOP Lawmakers Hire Private Lawyer For Voting Rights Suit

North Carolina Republican legislative leaders have replaced a state government attorney with a private lawyer to defend them as they challenge an upcoming order on when felony offenders can get their voting rights restored. A judicial panel plans to soon issue the order, which states that anyone convicted of a felony can register to vote after they’ve completed their prison sentence. Republican lawmakers want to appeal the order, but say Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein's office won't commit to doing that. Legislative leaders and Stein have had differences in the past over the department’s representation in litigation.