Will anyone in the media inquire from: Judge Sullivan, John Gleeson, Beth Wilkinson, and the Chief Judge for the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, and ask:
If Gleeson’s work and Wilkinson’s work is pro bono or paid?
If paid, then paid by whom?—Sullivan or the Treasury (or other)?
If the Treasury, then through what fund or under what specific legal authority?
As near as I can tell, Judge Sullivan hiring a lawyer to represent him before the circuit court and explain his actions is highly unusual. This does not appear to be an amicus situation and the circuit court specifically requested that Judge Sullivan himself appear before them. This seems to me like Sullivan has hired an attorney because he feels personal exposure over his handling of the case including his antics in the court room. It also seems like Judge Sullivan has some personal involvement in the outcome of the case and does not trust himself to go before the circuit court and argue his position without getting emotional and revealing his bias.
This is a black eye for our legal system and hints at larger problems lurking below the lens of public observation.