Whenever the governor shall receive notice of the commencement of any action or proceedings, by which the rights, interests or property of the state shall be liable to be affected, the governor shall inform the attorney general thereof, and require the attorney general to act in conjunction with the counsel of the proper party to protect the interests of the state; and in any such case, or in any action prosecuted or defended in behalf of the state, he or she may, if the public interests require it, employ such counsel as he or she shall deem proper to assist in any such action or proceeding; and in case of the absence or sickness of the attorney general, or if he or she shall be in any way interested adversely to the state in any action or proceeding, the governor may employ counsel to act in his or her stead.