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State attorneys are urging a judge to toss a lawsuit from former Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff, who seeks $1.1 million in legal fees that he spent to defend himself against bribery allegations that ultimately were dismissed.
The attorney general's office said in a court filing Friday that Shurtleff isn't eligible for reimbursement because he wasn't an employee when charges were dismissed last year.
Shurtleff said he's covered under a state law designed to protect state employees who are acquitted after being charged with a crime while carrying out their duties.
That law is usually used by people acquitted by a jury. The three-term attorney general's case was dismissed by Davis County District Attorney Troy Rawlings, who was assigned to the case.
Shurtleff said he's still eligible because Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes ordered Rawlings to dismiss the charges. Reyes denies that he sent the order.