The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has ordered Attorney General Andrea Campbell to decide within 30 days whether she will represent State Auditor Diana DiZoglio in her ongoing legal effort to audit the Legislature. The court’s directive, issued Thursday, requires Campbell to submit a status report indicating if she will continue pursuing a motion to dismiss the lawsuit DiZoglio filed against legislative leaders who have resisted the audit.

The dispute stems from a 2024 ballot measure that granted DiZoglio the authority to audit the state’s legislative chambers. However, legislative leaders have challenged the audit’s legality, arguing that it infringes on the constitutional separation of powers between the legislative and executive branches. DiZoglio filed suit to compel compliance with her audit request, sparking a protracted legal battle involving multiple state officials.

At a court hearing on Wednesday, the justices expressed frustration with the ongoing conflict between DiZoglio, Campbell, and the Legislature, signaling a desire to move the case toward resolution. Justice Scott Kafker emphasized the public’s interest in settling the constitutional questions at the heart of the dispute. “People have an interest in having that resolved, and this court ultimately decides whether that’s constitutional,” he said. Kafker also noted the stalemate between the parties, remarking that the case was “going nowhere” amid continued disagreements.

Campbell has previously stated that she needed additional information from the auditor’s office before determining whether to represent DiZoglio directly or to appoint a special assistant attorney general to handle the matter. During Wednesday’s proceedings, Justice Dalila Argaez Wendlandt noted that DiZoglio had already provided relevant information, implying that further delay might be unnecessary.

The court’s order seeks to break the impasse by prompting the Attorney General to clarify her position on representation, potentially advancing a resolution of the constitutional issues surrounding the legislative audit. The outcome will determine whether DiZoglio can proceed with her audit under state law and may set important precedents regarding the limits of legislative oversight by other branches of government.