Confusion in Connecticut AG Race

HARTFORD (CN) - Connecticut Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz sued the state and her own party, seeking declaratory judgment that she's qualified to run for attorney general. Bysiewicz claims her 11 years as secretary of state and 8 years in private practice qualify her to run, under the state law that requires 10 years of "active practice." The issue was raised by a blogger almost immediately after Bysiewicz switched from the governor's race, where she was frontrunner, to the attorney general race.

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal offered a legal opinion several weeks ago saying that the 10 years of "active practice" provision added in the 1970s was constitutional, but Bysiewicz's lawyers disagreed.

They said to be constitutional it would have to have been added as a constitutional amendment, a statutory requirement.

Bysiewicz is a Democrat.

Should Bysiewicz fail to prove she has 10 years of "active practice," her attorney, Wesley Horton, said he would argue that the state constitution trumps the statute and all Bysiewicz needs is to be is a lawyer in good standing to qualify for the job.

Bysiewicz is represented by the Horton, Shields and Knox of Hartford.

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