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Judge to consider blocking Wisconsin lame-duck laws

Posted at 10:38 AM, Mar 18, 2019
and last updated 2019-03-18 11:38:11-04

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A Madison judge is set to consider blocking Wisconsin Republicans’ lame-duck laws limiting Gov. Tony Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul’s powers.

A coalition of liberal-leaning groups headlined by the League of Women Voters filed a lawsuit in Dane County in January arguing the Legislature convened illegally to pass the laws in December.

Judge Richard Niess is scheduled to hold a hearing Monday afternoon on the groups’ motion seeking a temporary injunction blocking the laws. He’ll also consider Republican lawmakers’ motion to dismiss the case as well as a motion to dismiss the Wisconsin Elections Commission as a defendant.

Niess could decide the case outright Monday. Both the liberal-leaning groups and the GOP legislators are seeking summary judgment on the matter.