Wisconsin Judge Maryann Sumi issued another order to block the collective bargaining law.
"Further implementation of the act is enjoined," Sumi said.
"Apparently that language was either misunderstood or ignored, but what I said was the further implementation of Act 10 was enjoined. That is what I now want to make crystal clear."
She warned that those who violate her order could face court sanctions.
In response to Attorney General Steven Means, a Republican who said the law was already published and in effect, Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca, a Democrat from Kenosha, expressed shock.
"It's just startling that the attorney general believes you should not follow court orders anymore," he said.
But according to one Marquette University law professor, that may not be the real issue.
Richard Esenberg said he was not surprised by the ruling but criticized the judge.
"There is applicable Supreme Court precedent that a court has no authority to enjoin the publication of a law," he said. "The state has repeatedly cited that law to her and as far as I know she has not only failed to explain herself about why she feels she has the authority, she hasn't even acknowledged there is an issue. That just leaves me speechless."
Esenberg was referring to a 1943 state Supreme Court opinion that said courts could not interfere with legislation until it is published and becomes law.
Unless there is some later Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling, Judge Sumi would seem to be the one ignoring the courts.
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