Wis. Justices Question Judge in Union Case

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Conservative justices on the Wisconsin Supreme Court are questioning the attorney for the judge who struck down Republican Gov. Scott Walker's divisive union law, asking why the judge thought she had the authority to block it from going into effect.

Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi ruled last month that Republicans violated Wisconsin's open meetings law when they met on the measure without proper public notice. She declared the law void — a ruling state attorneys have asked the Supreme Court to overturn.

Justice Michael Gableman asked during Monday's oral arguments how Sumi reconciled her order with prohibitions on legislating from the bench. Sumi's attorney, Marie Stanton, replied the Legislature invited the courts to play a role when it adopted the open meetings law.

Gableman asked where judges' authority stops.