Judge strikes down Wis. anti-union law

MADISON, Wis., May 26 (UPI) -- A Wisconsin judge Thursday struck down a Republican-driven law that takes away collective bargaining rights from state employees.

But the judge's ruling, and her order to keep the law's provisions from going into effect, may be superseded by the Wisconsin Supreme Court. The high court has scheduled hearings on the order early next month, and the judge's actual ruling is expected to be appealed to the high court.

Dane County Judge Judge Maryann Sumi ruled the Republican-dominated Legislature violated Wisconsin's open-meetings law when it moved the legislation in March, MarketWatch reported.

The law, pushed by Republican Gov. Scott Walker, would have taken away the right of most state employees to collectively bargain on wages, healthcare benefits or working conditions.

Sumi said the evidence was "clear and convincing" a conference committee failed to comply with the open-meetings law when it hastily met in March to push through the legislation, WisPolitics.com reported.

But she said a remedy was in the committee's hands. She said committee members still had the opportunity to correct the violation by providing notice of a new meeting and passing the legislation again.

Republican legislative leaders say if they redo the process it would be an admission they did something wrong, which they vehemently deny.

Republican leaders named in Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne's complaint have claimed legislative immunity in the case, WisPolitics said.