City votes to retain attorneys

Alexis Barker
NLJ News Editor
 
The Newcastle City Council voted unanimously on Aug. 16 to retain both Mark Hughes and his son, Dublin, as attorneys for the city of Newcastle. Michael Stulken, the former city attorney, resigned. 
Hughes, a lawyer since 1978, received his law degree from the University of Wyoming that same year. He has spent his career practicing law in Sundance at his firm Mark Hughes Law Office, according to his credentials. 
Throughout his career, his credentials state that he has practiced in the areas of domestic relations, personal injury, wrongful death, real estate, school law, municipal law, civil litigation, probate, trusts and estates, utilities and insurance defense. His experience in municipal law is one reason he was a good fit for the city position, City Clerk-Treasurer Greg James said. 
“The choice was based on Mr. Hughes’ experience with municipal law and him already representing another community and a couple of school districts,” James said. 
According to James, he had reached out to Jim Peck, a former Newcastle city attorney, at the direction of Mayor Pam Gualtieri and the City Council for attorney recommendations. He noted that cities are not required to advertise the need for a lawyer because such attorneys are not technically city employees. Instead, they are retained to aid the city in legal situations. 
“Mr. Peck recommended we contact Mr. Mark Hughes to see if he might be interested,” James said. “Again, at the direction of the mayor and council, I called Mr. Hughes and asked if he might be interested in working as the Newcastle attorney.” 
Hughes agreed to represent the city, James said, and asked whether the city could be interested in using Dublin Hughes as well. 
Dublin, who recently graduated from law school and has taken his bar exam, is allowed to work under his father for the time being, James said. 
“His son will be the one coming to the meetings,” James told the council on Aug. 16. “Mark won’t be able to because he has long-standing commitments.” 
Hughes and the city will negotiate an office salary in the future but have agreed to pay $300 an hour in the interim. 
The council also had to approve a waiver of conflict of interest upon hiring Hughes. According to James, the waiver was needed because Hughes represents Sen. Ogden Driskill (R-Devils Tower), who is involved in a land purchase and easement agreement with the city. 
“We may have to do this again if we have another issue with Driskill,” he said, noting that this waiver is only for the current situation.