Bedford County District Attorney Ashlan Clark has filed a civil lawsuit against the county commissioners there, alleging they reversed the hiring of a new assistant district attorney, despite prior approvals. The employee was ready to begin work on November 17th, but was told on November 6th the county was on a hiring freeze, due to the recent state budget impasse. That should have had no effect, since the position was already factored into the budget for the county D.A.’s Office. Clark argues the county commissioners should be ordered to provide temporary back pay to the prospective employee from her initial hiring date of November 17th.