Walker’s Wrecking Crew Goes After Judiciary

By Rebecca Kemble, September 18, 2013

Control over the executive and legislative branches of Wisconsin state government apparently isn’t enough for Republicans and their corporate backers. Now they want to curtail the powers of the judicial branch by effectively eliminating circuit court judges’ ability to block unconstitutional state laws.

Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce and their Republican allies in the legislature pushed a bill through the Wisconsin State Assembly last June that would automatically nullify an injunction against a state law ordered by a circuit court judge immediately upon appeal. Furthermore, the appeals process is automatically triggered by the filing of any such injunction or restraining order by a circuit court judge.