By: Associated Press//October 25, 2011//
MADISON, Wis. (AP) – The Wisconsin state Senate has passed a Republican-backed bill that would allow people suing the state or a state employee to pick where the case would be heard.
Current law requires all cases against the state, as well as their appeals, to be heard in Dane County unless specifically authorized by law to be somewhere else.
Republicans have long argued that judges in Dane County are too liberal.
The Senate passed the bill 18-15 Tuesday, with Democratic Sen. Jim Holperin joining Republicans in support.
Democratic opponents argued it would lead to venue shopping and allow plaintiffs to harass defendants by requiring the case to be heard far away from where they live.
Cases filed by prisoners would still be heard in Dane County.
The bill now heads to the Assembly.