Litigation

Judge Sidelines Groups in WI Finance Case

By Peter Hardin

Three groups that back campaign finance reform won’t be allowed to intervene in a lawsuit that seeks to overturn  a new Wisconsin law for public financing of state Supreme Court candidates.

The Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, a partner of Justice at Stake, and the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin Education Fund and Common Cause in Wisconsin will not be permitted to intervene and help defend the Wisconsin law, U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb has ruled, according to a  Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article.

The judge wrote in her ruling the groups “failed to show that they have a direct, significant interest in this suit that is not being represented adequately by the state attorney general” She allowed them leeway to file friend-of-the-court briefs.

Judge Randy Koschnick filed a lawsuit in December challenging the new law. A separate challenge was brought by Wisconsin Right to Life. You can read more about the law, and the litigation, in Gavel Grab.

Full post as published by The Gavel on March 12, 2010 (boomark / email).