UPDATE: Court denies motion to temporarily halt Right to Work in Wisconsin

On Thursday, the Dane County Circuit denied a motion seeking to temporarily halt the recently enacted “Right-to-Work” law (2015 Wisconsin Act 1). 

While the lawsuit will continue the Dane County Circuit Court ultimately will hear arguments and decide whether Act 1 is constitutional. The court today only decided that the law will remain in effect pending the outcome of the lawsuit.

“We remain confident the Right-to-Work law ultimately will be upheld as constitutional,” said Attorney General Brad Schimel.

David M. Meany argued the case on behalf of the Wisconsin Department of Justice. Assistant Attorneys General Dan Lennington, Clay Kawski and Steven Kilpatrick also assisted in drafting the brief to the court.

The controversial Right-to-work law has been challenged by state unions as unconstitutional and gets a hearing Thursday morning in Dane County Court.

The suit was brought against the State of Wisconsin by workers represented by the Wisconsin AFL-CIO, Machinists Local 1061 and United Steelworkers District 2 on March 10th. \"Not only will Right to Work lower wages, weaken safety standards and hurt all Wisconsin families, but we believe this law is unconstitutional,\" said Phil Neuenfeldt, President of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO.  

The Wisconsin Department of Justice says the law doesn't remove any money from union accounts, and therefore doesn't violate the constitution.  Attorneys for the state add that similar lawsuits have failed in other states.

David M. Meany argued the case on behalf of the Wisconsin Department of Justice. Assistant Attorneys General Dan Lennington, Clay Kawski and Steven Kilpatrick also assisted in drafting the brief to the court.