BETHEL— The Bethel Town Board approved outside legal representation Wednesday night for three Justice Court officials named as defendants in a state Supreme Court lawsuit.

The defendants are the Town of Bethel Justice Court, Court Clerk Mary Prince, Justice Cindy Barber and Justice Kevin Rhyne.

Supervisor Dan Sturm said the case stems from a landlord-tenant matter that had been heard in Bethel Justice Court. He said the plaintiff later brought a suit in Supreme Court against the court officials.

Because of conflicts among the defendants, separate attorneys are being assigned.

Justice Barber will be represented by Mike McGuire at a rate of $400 per hour, while Prince will be represented by Henry Shawn at $495 per hour. Justice Rhyne will be represented by Town Attorney Marty Miller at his regular rate, Sturm said.

Sturm acknowledged the cost of the outside attorneys, but said such rates are not unusual for Supreme Court litigation.

“Supreme Court is quite pricey,” Sturm said during the meeting. In a follow-up conversation, he said the rates were “not uncommon,” adding that $400 per hour was “not unprecedented in a Supreme Court case.”

The board approved the outside attorneys so the defendants can be represented ahead of an Aug. 20 court conference.

Sturm said the town sought coverage through its insurance carrier but was denied.

The town did not discuss the merits of the pending Supreme Court case in detail.