Friday, March 18, 2011

Dane County Judge Sumi Issues Temperary Restraining Order Preventing Union Busting Law From Taking Effect In Wisconsin

State department of justice plans to appeal TRO ruling.

By H. Nelson Goodson
March 18, 2011

Madison, Wisconsin - On Friday, Dane County Circuit Court Judge Maryann Sumi issued a temperary restraining order (TRO) to stop the union busting bill from becomming law. She felt compelled to issue the TRO, since it deals with a controversal public issue and if the public was given enough notice to attend such a meeting, especially when the end result would affect them. Sumi ordered Douglas La Follette, Secretary of State not to publish the law busting unions until the court orders otherwise.
Court arguments between the State legislature and Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne continue in the case. At issue, if Republican legislators had an emergency to meet and failed to provide at least 24 hours notice before they convened to modify Governor Scott Walker's budget repair bill. The Republicans actually gave a two hour notice before they met in an emergency legislative conference to modify the bill by separating the collective bargaining rights provison that eliminates most union rights.
The order won't prevent the Republican controlled legislature to convene once again in a special legislative conference to pass it. Majority leaders from both the Senate and House indicated they will continue in the court process rather than try to repass the bill.
Last Wednesday, the Dane County District Attorney Ozanne had filed a civil lawsuit claiming the Republican controlled legislature violated the open meetings law by not providing a 24 hour notice when it covened a joint legislative conference to modify the budget repair bill.
The state department of justice plans to appeal the TRO ruling. Assistant Attorney General Steve Means says, his department will seek permission from the appeals court to do so. The case might eventually end up in the Wisconsin State Supreme Court.
Governor Walker said, he is confident the law will be enacted.

Connected by MOTOBLUR™ on T-Mobile

No comments: