Rep. John Carmichael should be ashamed for questioning the skills and motives of the attorneys in the Kansas Attorney General’s Office just to score political points. These lawyers work tirelessly to protect taxpayers, defend the rights of Kansans, and enforce the law, despite earning far less than they could in the private sector.
The Topeka Capital-Journal’s article even contradicts Carmichael’s claims. He says past administrations didn’t face recruitment problems, yet the article itself admits Attorney General Kris Kobach inherited a short-staffed office.
The article also highlights how attorney positions in other state agencies pay less than those in the AG’s office and remain unfilled, proving that low-paying jobs are tough to fill. Since Kobach took office, the number of attorney vacancies has improved, with only 15 openings compared to 25 when he started. Hiring skilled attorneys takes time and money, and offers are already out for several positions.
Carmichael’s idea that new lawyers would jump at an $81,000 salary is outdated. In today’s economy, the average starting salary for a lawyer is $101,357, according to Glassdoor. His suggestion that good lawyers don’t want to work for Kobach is also false. Many attorneys have joined the AG’s office, specifically seeking to work with Kobach, including recruits from Colorado, Indiana, and New York.
Since Kobach took office, the team has successfully hired talented attorneys, including one from a Tenth Circuit clerkship and another in the top 10% of their class at Washburn.
Finally, the Capital-Journal’s theory that the AG is relying on outside counsel as something new is incorrect—previous attorneys general did the same.
As a politician, Carmichael is free to make his claims, but the dedicated staff at the Attorney General’s office deserves respect, as does the hard work they do for Kansans.