Probation inquiry shifts to Legislature

Here's a great story on patronage politics in my home state of Massachusetts. The story itself has a lot to reveal, but the comments on the story are actually more revealing. One commenter remarks that this story "will be interesting to watch..... until it disappears," meaning no one will pay the piper (and I agree) and things will be swept 'neath the rug. And quite a few posters take issue with the law firm that intends to represent the "Great and General Court of Massachusetts." The relevant quote follows:

Frongillo’s law firm, Weil, Gotshal & Manges, has agreed to work for free.

“The requests are for documents,’’ Frongillo, a former federal prosecutor, said yesterday. “It’s possible at some point the US attorney would want people to testify about those documents.’’

Frongillo, who heads the Boston litigation practice of the large international firm, said the law practice agreed to waive its usual fee “out of civic duty’’ and in recognition that the state’s budget crunch has caused widespread program cutbacks.

Many people are outraged - regardless of budgetary constraints on the MA House & Senate - that an expensive law firm (and lawyer) with obvious ties to the public sector would do pro bono work for the Legislature (laughingly out of "civic duty") while residents in true need of legal representation in this state go wanting. I agree.