DOMA Defender Clement Broke K&S’s Rules – Are They Owed An Apology?

DOMA seems to keep causing problems every time it turns up. Paul Clement, the now-former King and Spalding (K&S) partner who signed John Boehner’s contract to defend DOMA, the Defense of Marriage Act, in court, broke company rules and policies by taking the case. While no one is saying he was fired, it’s clear that his exit wasn’t exactly disappointing to the many people who work at King and Spalding — a vast reversal from the hoardes of anti- K&S sentiment brought on by the rabid right.

READ: DOMA: Clement’s Hypocrisy Paints House As Victim, “Unpopular Client”

“[T]he DOMA matter was not fully submitted to King & Spalding’s business review committee, a firm requirement, before Clement signed a contract obligating the firm,” The Wall Street Journal reports Thursday. “They said the committee immediately began reviewing the case the day after the firm learned of the contract—and rejected it the next day,” according to a report in the Daily Report that The Journal cites.

“The sources said the firm’s partners were taken by surprise when news broke that Clement had taken the case. ‘Any matter that is controversial in any way or where there is a discounted rate goes through the business review committee,’ one of the sources told the Daily Report, noting that the DOMA engagement was both controversial and had a discounted rate.

“The King & Spalding sources, according to the Daily Report, said that there was widespread, adamant opposition to the DOMA case within the firm. “”It sticks a finger in the eye of people,” said one source, referring to the firm’s gay lawyers and staff.

“And, a source said, the case did not fit the firm’s business mission. “King & Spalding is a corporate law firm—not a constitutional firm.”

So, maybe Clement should have been fired for violating company policies?

King and Spalding first took the ire of same-sex marriage supporters when news broke they (not Clement) had taken the case — now we can see, perhaps unfairly.

And then King and Spalding not only took the ire of DOMA supporters when it dropped the case, but also lost at least two clients: the NRA, and the State of Virginia.

READ: DOMA: NOM On Law Firm That Refused To Defend DOMA, And Dumped The House

Perhaps they can now ask them to return?

Ah, heck, why would anyone want to represent the NRA or Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli?

What do you think? Is K&S owed an apology?