Attorney General Won't Issue Price Lab Opinion; Here's Why

Because of a lawsuit filed yesterday, Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller will not issue an opinion on the proposed closing of .

The by 37 parents, teachers and community members yesterday in Black Hawk County District Court. It questions whether the Board of Regents has the legal authority to close Price Lab. The Attorney General had been asked to issue an opinion on the same question.

"Generally, we do not issue opinions when to do so would interfere with the authority of the courts," Deputy Attorney General Julie Pottorff wrote in a letter released by the Attorney General's office. "The Iowa Supreme Court has specifically commented on this policy."

The letter also says that if litigation is filed against state officials, the Attorney General's office is obligated to defend them.

The letter was sent yesterday to the legislators who had requested the opinion at the beginning of March. They are Sen. Jeff Danielson, Sen. Bill Dotzler, Rep. Bob Kressig, Rep. Deborah Berry, Rep. Anesa Kajtazovic, Rep. Chris Hagenow, Rep. Walt Rogers and Rep. Pat Grassley.