This just in from the ongoing hearings over the terms of Judge Maryann Sumi's Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) against the Wisconsin state government. Per the Twittter page of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO, the Honorable Judge Sumi has just declared that the bill is not legally in effect and that the Department of Administration (responsible for implementation) is wrong for treating it like it is. It seems like things are unraveling for the WI GOP's case.
I'll post the key tweets below the fold.
UPDATE x1: Declaration confirmed by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel!
UPDATE x2: It's also been posted in the Wisconsin State Journal. It also says that Judge Sumi is threatening sanctions if her TRO continues to be violated.
UPDATE x3: The great legal mind, Patriot Daily News Clearinghouse, has posted the amended TRO in the comments section. It reads:
AMENDED ORDER GRANTING MOTION FOR TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER
For the reasons stated on the record at the March 18, 2011, hearing conducted by the Court, as well as based on the testimony and evidence submitted at the March 29, 2011, hearing conducted by the Court, and pursuant to Wis. Stat. Section 813.02, Secretary of State Douglass La Follette, in his official capacity, is hereby ENJOINED from designating the date of publication for 2011 Wisconsin Act 10, or any further implementation of 2011 Wisconsin 10, including but without limitation publishing in the official state newspaper, pursuant to Wis. Stat. Section 14.38(1)(c), until further order of the Court.
Posted from newest to oldest:
Judge Sumi says bill attacking Wisconsin working families NOT in effect. TRO must have been "ignored or misunderstood" by DOA.
less than 5 seconds ago via Facebook .
Judge Sumi says bill weakening WI working families NOT in effect. TRO must have been "ignored or misunderstood" #notinmyWI
1 minute ago via web .
ACLUMadison Sumi says she dismayed that even with simple fix for this conflict (open mtgs issue), parties are pursuing litigation at taxpayers' expense.
13 minutes ago via TweetDeck
Retweeted by wisaflcio and 9 others .RT @news3jessica Sumi:Those who act in willful and open defiance of court order are in peril of sanctions and jeopardize stability of state.
8 minutes ago via web
I'll update this diary as things develop further.
Update x1: It was confirmed by the Journal Sentinel that Judge Semi did indeed clarify the TRO and will probably rule on the Open Meetings issues at the second hearing this Friday. Long story short, the Honorable Maryann Sumi was not at all amused by the WI GOP's antics. Still, the WI GOP is in denial and is burying their heads in the sand. It's what Republicans do best, after all.
Update x2: The Wisconsin State Journal is also carrying the story. Two key quotes from Sumi's ruling:
"Apparently that language was either misunderstood or ignored, but what I said was ‘the further implementation of 2011 Wisconsin Act 10 is enjoined,'" Sumi said. "That what I now want to make crystal clear."
"Now that I've made my earlier order as clear as it possibly can be, I must state that those who act in open and willful defiance of the court order place not only themselves at peril of sanctions, they also jeopardize the financial and the governmental stability of the state of Wisconsin," Sumi said.