Illegal firing lawsuit against Dunleavy will extend into 2023

A legal dispute that began when Gov. Mike Dunleavy took office in 2018 will not be resolved before this year’s gubernatorial election.

Last week, a federal judge set a 2023 timeline for a trial to determine financial damages in a case involving Libby Bakalar, one of four state employees who sued Dunleavy, his former chief of staff Tuckerman Babcock and the state after being illegally fired when Dunleavy took office.

Babcock is now a candidate for state Senate and Dunleavy is running for reelection.

The state has settled with three of the people who filed lawsuits, but Bakalar has declined sett...