Theno v. Wisconsin State Assembly

On February 19, 2026, Law Forward filed a lawsuit on behalf of Wisconsin taxpayers challenging the Republican-controlled Legislature’s practice of using public dollars to hire private legal counsel. This clear violation of the Wisconsin Constitution has resulted in the illegal expenditure of tens of millions in taxpayer funds, usurping the role of the Wisconsin Department of Justice in representing the state in litigation and providing the Legislature legal representation.

It has been previously reported that since 2019 the Legislature has spent more than $26 million on private law firms to pursue legal interests that are wasteful, partisan, or serve no legitimate public purpose.

“The Legislature wrote itself a blank check to pay private law firms. Our clients are suing to vindicate the rights of all Wisconsin taxpayers and curtail the Legislature’s abuse of power,” said Kacy Gurewitz, Staff Counsel for Law Forward. 

The lawsuit names Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, Senate President Mary Felzkowski, and other legislative leaders as defendants, along with the Assembly, Senate, and the Department of Administration. It seeks court orders declaring the spending scheme unconstitutional and blocking the Department of Administration from processing future payments that violate those rulings.