Madison Judge Doesn't Make Ruling Regarding Lame Duck Laws
Tuesday, March 19th, 2019 -- 10:47 AM
(AP) -A Madison judge has stopped short of issuing a ruling in a lawsuit challenging Wisconsin Republicans’ lame-duck laws limiting Democratic Gov. Tony Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul’s powers.Dane County Circuit Judge Richard Niess listened to oral arguments in the case for two hours Monday afternoon, then ended the hearing without issuing a ruling. He promised to put one out soon but didn’t elaborate. A coalition of A coalition of liberal-leaning groups filed a lawsuit in Dane County in January arguing the Legislature convened illegally when it passed the laws in December because the body’s scheduled meeting days ended seven months earlier. Misha Tseytlin, the Legislature’s attorney, told Judge Richard Niess during a hearing Monday that he should dismiss the lawsuit.
He argues that the Legislature’s two-year sessions run continuously regardless of pre-scheduled floor periods. Niess seemed to signal he agreed with the coalition near the end of the hearing, asking Tseytlin how he could word a stay that would delay the effect of his order if he ruled against the Legislature.
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