Arguing that the law penalizes those who exercise their constitutional right of association, Madison lawyer Lester Pines argued Monday that Wisconsin’s Supreme Court should strike down the state’s controversial collective bargaining legislation.
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Chief justice cites ‘bully pulpit’ as source of constitutional amendment (UPDATE)
Republican lawmaker’s push to retool the way Wisconsin’s chief justice title is bestowed could be, longtime Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson said Wednesday, a result of her ability to use the “bully pulpit.”
Read More »Senate passes bill to improve synthetic drug prosecutions
The state Senate passed a bill Tuesday meant in part to prevent prosecutors from having to enlist pharmacologists to attest to the psychological effects of synthetic drugs in cases against sellers of the banned substances.
Read More »Compromise found for involuntary commitment bill
Lawmakers struck a compromise Tuesday on legislation meant to remove obstacles to the involuntary treatment of people suffering from mental illnesses.
Read More »The statehouse: A place paved with the best intentions?
Until 5:05 p.m. Wednesday night, state Rep. Gary Hebl thought there would be an amendment to a bill requiring the installation of devices that prevent someone convicted more than once of drunken driving from starting a car after having a drink.
Read More »Committee votes in favor of chief justice elections
Despite concerns that the move might be “only political” in nature, an Assembly committee on Thursday voted in favor of a measure that would amend Wisconsin’s constitution to require biennial elections of the state’s chief justice.
Read More »Insurers could face more fees in workers’ comp fraud fight
Lawmakers are considering special fees for insurers as the price to prevent fraud in the state’s workers’ compensation system.
Read More »Appeals court denies stay in Act 10 case
A Wisconsin Court of Appeals declined Monday to issue a legal stay the state attorney general had sought in a challenge of a 2011 law stripping most public workers of collective-bargaining rights.
Read More »Van Hollen seeks stay in Act 10 order
The Wisconsin Attorney General is calling on the state Supreme Court and court of appeals to allow school union elections to go forward despite a Dane County judge’s order to the contrary.
Read More »Prosser: Public money complicated high court race (UPDATE)
As the State Bar and others work on alternatives to Supreme Court elections, a new report pointed to the increasingly high spending on races for Wisconsin’s highest court.
Read More »Lawyers asked to define legal domestic partnerships
State Supreme Court justices heard arguments Wednesday debating what sort of domestic-partnership law would comply with the state’s ban on same-sex marriage.
Read More »Legal tactics change in domestic partnership challenge
The group questioning the constitutionality of Wisconsin’s domestic partnerships registry has changed tactics now that it is bringing its case to the state Supreme Court, according to a lawyer specializing in family law.
Read More »The price of wrongful incarceration
Annette Bruner’s son meant much more to her than $25,000.
Read More »Senate passes underage drinking bill
Bar and liquor owners could obtain judgments of $1,000 against underage drinkers they sue in civil court under a bill passed by the state Senate on Tuesday.
Read More »Informed consent bill passes Senate
The state Senate passed a bill Tuesday governing what information doctors are obliged to provide to patients.
Read More »State’s high court takes up 5 cases
The Wisconsin Supreme Court announced Friday that it has accepted five new cases and denied opportunities to review a long list of others.
Read More »Trial lawyers not happy with ‘informed consent’ amendment
In amending a bill concerning what doctors must tell patients about alternatives to prescribed medical treatments, lawmakers have missed the mark, says the president of Wisconsin’s trial lawyers association.
Read More »Synthetic drugs bill gets hearing
Prosecutors would no longer have to enlist pharmacologists to attest to the psychological effects of synthetic drugs in cases against sellers of the banned substances, under a bill heard by the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Labor on Wednesday.
Read More »Attempts to amend contingency-fee bill fail (UPDATE)
Republican state senators shot down four amendments Democrats offered Tuesday to a bill that would place a $30 million cap on the contingency fees the state can pay to law firms.
Read More »Bill to allow lawsuits against underage drinkers
Underage drinkers who use fake IDs to buy alcohol would be subject to civil lawsuits under a bill passed by a state Senate committee.
Bill would end maintenance upon remarriage
State lawmakers approved a bill Tuesday that would require divorcees to provide notice courts of a new marriage, triggering a cessation of child support and maintenance payments.
Read More »State’s high court to hear collective bargaining arguments in Nov.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court will hear oral arguments next month in a legal challenge of the 2011 law stripping most public workers of nearly all their collective bargaining rights.
Read More »Bill would provide immunity to good Samaritans in overdose cases
A state Senator is seeking to grant legal immunity to “a new type of good Samaritan:” someone who, despite illegally using drugs or alcohol, takes another person to an emergency room to prevent an overdose.
Read More »Committee passes contingency-fee bill
The Wisconsin Senate Committee on Judiciary and Labor approved a bill Tuesday that would prevent law firms from receiving more than $30 million from contingency-fee contracts held with the state.
Read More »Politics unavoidable at Dane County Courthouse
Many of the biggest battles over hotly contested Republican-backed legislation in recent years have been fought a block away from the state Capitol at the Dane County Courthouse.
Senate approves bill allowing parolee searches
State lawmakers on Tuesday approved a bill allowing police officers to search a parolee they reasonably suspect has committed or is about to commit a crime.
Read More »Federal judge rules collective bargaining changes legal (UPDATE)
Wisconsin’s law stripping most public employees of all but a few of their collective bargaining rights does not violate the Constitution, a U.S. district judge ruled Wednesday.
Read More »In 3rd attempt, wrongfully convicted man to get compensation (UPDATE)
When David Turnpaugh appeared before the Wisconsin Claims Board on Wednesday for the third time in three years, he knew he would receive compensation for his wrongful conviction on prostitution and bail-jumping charges in 2006.
Read More »State, contractor could land in court over project
A construction company is alleging it is out $217,499 and accusing Wisconsin officials of violating procurement rules by insisting on the use of a particular product for a veterans home project.
Read More »Legislation seeks to lessen pepper spray regulation
Legislation that would deregulate pepper spray in Wisconsin is scheduled for a public hearing Tuesday in Madison.
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