By Howard Fischer | Capitol Media Service/Arizona Daily Sun
Hoping to short-circuit future lawsuits, Attorney General Tom Horne wants to tell attorneys from cities around the state exactly what he thinks their communities can — and cannot — offer to domestic partners of their residents.
Horne has invited the lawyers to a closed-door meeting for the end of the month at his Phoenix office. And those who cannot make the trek to Phoenix can participate by phone.
At this point, the event is pretty much a one-way street. Horne intends to sketch out the limits of city authority.
But he told Capitol Media Services that while he has pretty much made up his mind, he’s willing to listen.
“They may have things to tell me I haven’t thought about,” he said.
The meeting comes in the wake of a decision by Bisbee council members to offer “civil unions” to their residents.
That ordinance was rescinded after Horne threatened to sue. Council members have directed staff to recast it, this time in a way designed to avoid conflicts with state law and a legal fight with the attorney general.
That leaves the question of what they can do.
