Wisconsin Public-Sector Union Law on Hold

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi has issued a temporary restraining order blocking the implementation of Wisconsin's new labor law:

Sumi's order prevents Secretary of State Doug La Follette from publishing the law—and allowing it to take effect—until Sumi can rule on the merits of the case. The next hearing on the case is slated for March 29.

Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne, a Democrat, on Wednesday filed his complaint seeking to block the law because he said a legislative committee violated the state's open meetings law in passing the measure. The committee voted for it March 9, the Legislature quickly passed it and Walker signed it March 11.

Sumi said Ozanne was likely to succeed on the merits of the case.

"It seems to me the public policy behind effective enforcement of the open meeting law is so strong that it does outweigh the interest, at least at this time, which may exist in favor of sustaining the validity of the (collective bargaining law)," she said.

Read the full story here. For more on the situation in Wisconsin and other states, watch "State Budget Battle Showdowns."