Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli has told the Virginia Board of Health that it might have to hire outside counsel if it again ignores his advice on abortion clinic regulations and gets sued.
The attorney general's office issued the warning in a memo obtained by the Virginian-Pilot of Norfolk. Board members told the newspaper they've also been warned in face-to-face meetings that they likely would be denied state legal representation to defend themselves in a lawsuit.
In June, the board disregarded advice from a Cuccinelli deputy and stripped from the regulations a provision requiring clinics to meet the same strict building standards as new hospital construction.
Cuccinelli later refused to certify the regulations, saying the board overstepped its authority.
The board is scheduled to vote again on the regulations Friday.
