Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange is gearing up for the trial of his lifetime on Feb. 27 in New Orleans, where he will play a lead role in the litigation against the companies involved in the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Strange, 58, a Birmingham native who is one year into his first term as attorney general, has emerged as a key player in the massive case. Strange was appointed coordinating counsel by U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier, positioning him as the quarterback on an all-star team of lawyers representing the various plaintiffs.

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Strange, shortly after assuming office last year, made a critical decision not to hire private attorneys to represent the state at trial, reversing a move initiated by his predecessor, Troy King. 

Strange said he made the change because he was convinced that his legal staff was up to the challenge — and that it could save taxpayers millions of dollars in legal fees.

“I just felt that we had the legal talent in house to handle it. If we’re successful, we’ll be able to keep all of the recovery (funds) for Alabama taxpayers,” he said. 

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Strange’s point man on the case is Corey Maze, a former Alabama solicitor general who has worked as an assistant attorney general since 2003. Maze, he said, is a “tremendous litigator” who has spent the past year assigned to the oil spill case and will handle much of the courtroom work. 

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Veteran trial lawyer Jere Beasley, whose Montgomery-based firm represents private claimants who are party to the case, said he’s been impressed with Strange’s leadership. 

“He’s doing an excellent job of representing the state, and I feel very confident that he’s up to the challenge,” said Beasley, a former Alabama lieutenant governor. 

Read the complete story by the Press-Register's George Talbot at AL.com.