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Hartford, Conn. (WTNH) – The Susan Bysiewicz saga got another twist today; the State Republican Party has decided to join in the lawsuit seeking clarification of Bysiewicz’s qualifications to be Attorney General.

The chances that Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz will have to take the stand in court, and undergo cross examination about her qualifications as an attorney, went way up today as the state Republican Party hired a lawyer and decided to join the case.

“We don’t believe Susan Bysiewicz meets the test of being a candidate for Attorney General. She has sought legal clarification. She’s, in effect, inviting the Republican Party to participate in this process and we’re going to take her up on her invitation,” said Chairman Chris Healy of Connecticut Republicans.

Last week Bysiewicz, who was joined by State Democratic Party Chair Nancy DiNardo, announced she was asking a judge to clarify that her years as Secretary of the State qualifies as legal practice as a lawyer.

And, if it doesn’t, to rule that the statute is unconstitutional.

People have run for Attorney General since the statute was created; there was no confusion as to what ten years of active legal practice meant, it only is a confusion to Susan Bysiewicz,” said Healy.

The Democratic Party Chairwoman and Bysiewicz have said they would like this cleared up before the state convention on May 20th.

But, the lawyer the Republicans have hired, Attorney Eliot Gerston, told News Channel 8 that he’s concerned that a judge may not think the case is “ripe.”

In legal terms that just means “ready.”

The indication being that the court may decide not to take up the matter unless Bysiewicz actually gets the nomination; there are already two other Democrats seeking it.