Yes, the lawyers’ clocks are running in the Little Rock school case.

A lawyer for Superintendent Roy Brooks is trying to cancel a suspension hearing scheduled Monday. Jess Askew argues that the letter outlining reasons for Brooks’ firing contains no reason that qualifies for an emergency suspension under his contract. If the hearing goes forward, Askew says he’ll seek an injunction to block it. He wants time, too, to find a hearing officer from outside Little Rock.

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Chip Welch, the new attorney for the School Board, replies in a letter reprinted on the jump that he disagrees in every respect.

UPDATE: Askew has fired back at Welch in a PDF form we can’t readily reprint. He sounds a little touchy. He says what Welch proposes violates Brooks’ contract rights, that Welch is proceeding in a way at variance with School Board direction and, for good measure, questions whether Welch has authority to act and is duly employed. You might conclude from this and previous that the fellows at Williams and Anderson simply don’t like it when Katherine and Mitchell and Co. have legal representation, particularly of the vigorous sort. More volleys seem likely.

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UPDATE II: Welch returns. His note to Askew, who wants to delay discussing a hearing officer:

If you’re not able to do this till Friday night, my position won’t change.
 
I have talked with:
 
Former Court of Appeals Judge Andree Roaf
Attorney David Hargis of Little Rock
Attorney Eric Buchanan
 
All are acceptable to us. I mentioned yesterday, I won’t allow this case to be postponed.

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If you want to pick one of the above, let me know. If you can’t go forward till Friday evening, we will proceed as outlined.
 

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