Curtis, a Sandy Republican who will hold arguably the second-highest post in state government, is partnering with Hutchings, Baird & Jones, a firm whose attorneys have represented large developers in recent years and have sued residents in what the defendants say are challenges meant to curb their criticism.

"Obviously, I don't have any trouble with those type of law firms existing, but the idea of the speaker of the House, during his term, would be involved in one of those groups is questionable," said Gale Dick, president of Save Our Canyons, a Wasatch Front environmental group. "There can easily be conflicts of interest."

Curtis dismisses such criticism. He says he won't be doing much for the firm during the session because he will be too busy. Besides, he said, the firm doesn't involve itself in state government.

"I guess [the critics] would be more comfortable if I stay unemployed, but I'm not going to do that," said Curtis, who resigned this summer as general counsel to Salt Lake County Mayor Nancy Workman in the wake of a vehicle-abuse scandal. Curtis was cleared of any criminal wrongdoing.

Curtis adds that with a part-time Legislature most lawmakers have conflicts, such as school teachers or state employees. Senate President-elect John Valentine, for example, is a tax attorney who has argued cases before the State Tax Commission and who does not have to list all his clients in conflict forms because of attorney-client privilege.

Michael Hutchings, a former state judge and partner in the firm Curtis is joining, says he doesn't see a problem with Curtis' political post and his new job. "Greg Curtis knows a lot about local government" because of his previous service representing cities, Hutchings said. "These are local issues. I don't see any conflict."

The firm, formed about a month ago, has a client list that includes the state's major developers, such as Anderson Development, Ivory Homes, Woodbury Corporation and Suncrest.

Hutchings in 1998 launched a $1.7 million lawsuit against critics of a proposed South Jordan development. Some characterized the complaint as a classic example of a "Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation," or SLAPP suit.

Curtis was one of 11 representatives who voted against an initial anti-SLAPP bill in 2001, but he said he doesn't remember specifically why he voted that way. He said generally he believes government shouldn't restrict someone's access to the courts. Curtis did vote for a version of the bill that Valentine amended to say a SLAPP suit should be dismissed if one could prove its sole purpose was to quash free speech.

Janalee Tobias, an outspoken critic of the South Jordan project, was targeted by Hutchings' suit but she was careful with her words Tuesday when asked about Curtis joining the law firm.

"Utah's a very beautiful state and open space preservation in urban areas is extremely important to the quality of life," Tobias said. "I'm not sure how Greg Curtis will affect that."

Anthony Musci, chairman of the Utah chapter of the watchdog group Common Cause, says Curtis will be in a position to influence local land issues since municipalities clearly have to deal with the state on legislation.

"Is [Curtis' involvement] going to directly impact land-use issues? I don't know," Musci said. "Is it a potential conflict? No question."

Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson, who represented Tobias before he was elected, says it is common to see potential conflicts when lawmakers have other jobs. "Unfortunately, that's the sort of thing we see with a part-time Legislature," he said, noting that Curtis' position is no different than many other lawmakers.

tburr@sltrib.com