Judge hearing lawsuit to block Wisconsin union law

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A Wisconsin judge is hearing arguments on whether to block the state’s new and contentious collective bargaining law from taking effect.

Dane County’s district attorney filed a lawsuit contending a legislative committee that broke a stalemate that had kept the law in limbo for weeks met without the 24-hour notice required by Wisconsin’s open meetings law. The Republican-controlled Legislature passed the measure and Gov. Scott Walker signed it last week.

The law can’t take effect until it’s formally published, and the Democratic secretary of state says he plans to wait the full 10 days allowed to publish it March 25.

District Attorney Ismael Ozanne, a Democrat, wants Dane County Judge Maryann Sumi to grant an emergency order blocking publication of the law. The hearing is under way today.