COLCHESTER, Vt. -
The Democrats running for Vermont attorney general disagree on how to fight big cases.
Incumbent Bill Sorrell and challenger T.J. Donovan faced off Thursday night in a debate on Vermont Public Television moderated by Channel 3's Kristin Carlson. The lawyers disagree about how to handle big cases like Vermont Yankee which is under appeal in the federal system. Donovan says he won't argue a case before the U.S. Supreme Court and that Sorrell shouldn't either.
"I think the big issue here, we have to win. We don't have a good track record. Attorney General Sorrell has lost three big cases. We're going to have health care coming down the pike. We need to win it," Donovan said.
"The reality is Vermonters would be outraged for an attorney general to stand up and say 'I don't have the expertise, we don't have the horsepower to play with the big boys in federal court,'" Sorrell said.
In January, a federal court ruled Vermont tried to shut down Vermont Yankee over safety concerns, but that safety does not fall under the state's jurisdiction. Vermont is appealing that ruling. Sorrell says he consults with some of the best lawyers in the country and he is confident he will win.
On You Can Quote Me this Sunday at 11 a.m. we will air part two of our debate between the candidates that was taped at our studios last week.
