Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette says that he sees no conflict in representing the state’s governor, who approved Detroit's bankruptcy filing, while at the same time representing Detroit’s retirees, who assert that the filing is illegal, Reuters reported yesterday. In both cases, Schuette said that he is defending Michigan’s constitution. He also pointed out that his office is often called upon to appear on conflicting sides of the same case. “You can’t pick and choose which parts of the constitution to enforce,” Schuette said. Earlier this month, Schuette defended Michigan Governor Rick Snyder in three state court cases challenging the governor’s power to approve a bankruptcy filing for Michigan’s largest city by Detroit Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr. Detroit retirees, workers and the pension funds that filed the cases argue that the law empowering Snyder to approve the bankruptcy filing is unconstitutional because the bankruptcy threatens pension benefits, which are specifically protected by Michigan’s constitution.
