Judge Orders Wisconsin Capitol Re-Opened

[Hissyspit]

Source: Talking Points Memo DC

Judge Orders Wisconsin Capitol Re-Opened
Eric Lach | March 1, 2011, 12:05PM

A Dane County, Wisc., judge has issued a temporary restraining order to reopen the Wisconsin Capitol building to the public. Capitol access was restricted over the weekend and again this morning, following days in which the building had been crowded with protesters.

Judge Daniel Moeser ordered the building reopened. Court documents posted online read:

Resp. shall open the Wisconsin Capitol to members of the public during business hours and at times when governmental matters, such as hearings, listening sessions and court arguments are being conducted. This ex parte restraining order is in effect until the assigned trial court is able to schedule a hearing on the matter. If resp. wishes to have a hearing with respect to this order one will be scheduled as soon as possible before this court, the duty judge, if the assigned trial court is unable to hear the matter promptly. Pet. shall immediately serve a copy of this order on resp.

Read more: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/03/judge-orders-wisconsin-capitol-re-opened.php

---

@edcetera
Ed Cetera

Someone just read the TRO out loud, #wiunion crowd chanting LET US IN

24 minutes ago via Seesmic for Android Favorite Retweet Reply

[MineralMan]

1. Huzzah!

[liberal N proud]

2. The people of Wisconsin STILL own the building

At least until Walker sells it to the Koch's

[aquamarina]

3. Great News

[FeelingBlue]

4. Finally,

a piece of good news!

[myrna minx]

5. Excellent - the Capitol has always been a place for the people.

K&R

[flakey_foont]

6. YAY!

[polichick]

7. Only a matter of time before Wanker is shown the door! k&r

[RKP5637]

8. And let him use the back door to leave, he's not worthy of using the front door. n/t

[calimary]

35. Hey I like that - governor scott wanker. But then again I'm in a really BAD mood.

Probably comes from having been LOCKED OUT OF DU FOR MORE THAN 24 HOURS!!!!!!!


:grr: :grr: :grr:

[madamesilverspurs]

42. meanwhile . . .

-

[RoccoR5955]

9. It's not Walker's house, it's THE PEOPLE'S house!

He should remember that, even though he has a massive Koch habit.
He thinks he works for them, and not ALL of the people of Wisconsin.

Glad to see that a judge re-opened the PEOPLE'S HOUSE.

[JDPriestly]

10. Judges may not be union members, but they are government employees

and many of them made a lot more money when they worked in the private sector.

Even Chief Justice Roberts complains about government pay. (He's free to quit any time he gets a better offer as far as I am concerned.)

So, while many judges may be (and probably are) quite conservative because being conservative is just part of the job even if you are liberal in your politics, they will sympathize with public employees.

Doesn't mean they will side with the union members in the end. Judges, as I said, even if they are politically liberal, naturally conservative. They enforce existing laws, existing rules. It's not their job to create the law. They just interpret and apply it.

This decision is a very good sign.

[pacalo]

45. It's not a good time for Justice Roberts to be *hinting* for a colossal raise to match

his efforts in making his corporate cronies richer. Oh, wait...the RepubliCorporate tools can do anything they like; there are no checks & balances to stop them.

[htuttle]

11. As of 18 minutes ago, the doors were still blocked

Hosni Walker seems to think he's above the courts as well...

[bluevoter4life]

14. Violating a court order= breaking the law=impeachment?

Or is that a concept reserved strictly for Democrats?

[idrahaje]

28. think impeachment is only reserved for fornication.

Not if you actually break the law.

[quakerboy]

47. Impeachment by whom?

[TBF]

22. Judge ought to throw Hosni Walker in jail and throw away the key. nt

[calimary]

36. Maybe we should refer to him as Muammar walker (or wanker, as polichick suggested)

because he's still clinging to power. Hopefully not for too much longer.

[Kingofalldems]

12. K and R for Wisconsin

[rbixby]

13. I'm seeing reports that people are still not being allowed in

Anyone have more on this? I've just seen a few unconfirmed reports.....

Mostly from here

http://www.facebook.com/scottwalkerdouchebag

[gkhouston]

16. The tweets I'm seeing say that the DOA (the authority that controls the building)

claims to already be in compliance with the order. Here's a link

http://www.nbc15.com/home/headlines/UPDATE_Judge_Orders_Wisconsin_Capitol_Open_To_General_Public.html

The rules they're using would only let a tiny handful of people in and out during the daytime and they'd be strictly controlled. That doesn't map to the court order at all, in my opinion.

[Lasher]

19. Holy shit, are they going to defy the court order?

Then would happen after that?

[gkhouston]

23. Well, they *say* they aren't defying it, so I guess that's kinda like the check being in the mail.

I've got no idea what's next, but damn, wouldn't you like to be in that courtroom? Judges do not like being messed with.

[alterfurz]

26. same M.O. as in Walker's Milwaukee County days...

"Whenever lawyers told him he could not do something, he invariably said, 'Let's do it anyway. By the time it works its way through the courts, we will have achieved our objective and, who knows, we might win.'"

[calimary]

38. Good to know. MOST instructive about that M.O. from muammar walker.

:puke:

We should keep that in mind - the better to outwit - and outlast - him. Okay, and outplay him - and I was never a viewer of that "Survivor" show.

[Matariki]

39. Yeah. Fuck the Rule of Law. No consequences for Republicans anyway.

:grr:

[progressoid]

15. Hooray!!

[Solly Mack]

17. K&R

[tsuki]

18. Yahoo!

[defendandprotect]

20. Seems the GOP-Mafia don't own all the Judges ... yet??

[Lasher]

21. ACLU attorney: State could be in contempt if it doesn't comply with court ruling on Capitol access

It was unclear how, and how soon, state officials would comply with a Dane County Judge's ruling to reopen the state Capitol to the general public.

<snip>

Dane County Circuit Judge Dan Moeser issued the ruling this morning. A hearing was expected early this afternoon to allow the Walker administration to appeal the ruling.

"The order says they've got to let people in," says Larry Dupuis, legal director for the American Civlil Liberties Union of Wisconsin, which on Monday sent a letter to the state Department of Administration questioning the constitutionality of restricting access. "It seems to me the order means they can't distinguish among members of the public the way they have been."

The state Department of Administration closed the doors to the general public on Monday and again today, allowing only limited access as the state gears up for Gov. Scott Walker's budget address this afternoon.

But the state is still processing the order, which was served on the state Department of Administration. And as of 11:30 a.m., access was still limited.

"It should be taking effect immediately," says Dupuis. "That's the nature of a temporary restrining order."

http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/crime_and_courts/blog/article_947aed6a-442c-11e0-acdf-001cc4c03286.html

[SleeplessinSoCal]

24. Tyranny from the Wisconsin governor is put off for yet another day

[suffragette]

25. Hey Walker: You don't get to treat public property like

a corporate owned headquarters.

Good on the judge and let the people in!

[blondeatlast]

27. Score one for the people! Thank you, Judge, for following the law! nt

[Blue Owl]

29. Open Capitol = Open Minds

Closed Capitol = Closed Minds

[juxtaposed]

30. Hidden in Walkers bill is a little provision

to sell the name of Green Bay Packers stadium Lambeau Field, for a none competitive bid.

Koch Field?
Koch Stadium?
Koch Bay Packers?
Green Bay Kochers?

[TBF]

37. That is something that should be publicized - fans aren't going to like that. nt

[Myrina]

40. He can't do that...

Lambeau Field isn't "his" property to sell/rename.

IIRC, it belongs to the City of Green Bay.

[snacker]

31. not soooo fast...

court hearing going on right now. Looks like Walker is trying to throw his weight around.
http://twitter.com/ACLUofWisconsin

[gkhouston]

33. I'm loving the tweets. So far, it's been established that the public has been in

the building after 6pm before, with food, and that the protesters have been helping with the cleaning. Looks like Walker's getting nowhere, so far.

[Marnie]

32. Damn those activist judges

Another infantile move by Walker leaves him with a loaded diedee.

[gkhouston]

34. And now they're putting up barriers around the Capitol. Time for a moat!

http://twitpic.com/454j4a


Could someone please explain to Walker that being "entrenched in your position" is a figure of speech?

[Myrina]

41. Snotty's going to lock himself in his room and hold his breath ...

... until all of Wisconsin gives in to his little tantrum.

:wtf:

[savalez]

48. ... with one thumb in his mouth and one in his butt.

[pam4water]

43. Will it be open for the sneakie midnight sessions?

[gkhouston]

46. Not clear yet. The hearing which started at 2:15 is still going and may not finish today.

Judging by the questioning, if the judge is fair, any limit made on the number of protesters should be much less restrictive than what currently exists. Bit by bit, the testimony given seems to be establishing that the protesters have been well-behaved, tidy, and that the noise from the rotunda isn't reaching the offices or the Assembly chamber. There doesn't appear to be a safety issue or valid cause for complaint.

[Matariki]

44. Has anyone heard about the tunnel leading into the capital building?

This was on twitter: Democracy Now: confirmation that Gov is letting Tea Party peeps in capitol thru steam tunnel..happening right now!

and this: Tunnel to #wi capitol exits at 1 West Wilson St. Peacefully assemble there!

[efhmc]

49. I so admire these peple and wish we had even a tiny bit of

their power.

[orbitalman]

50. Does WALKER KNOW when he's lost??????? n/t

[pam4water]

52. Not if he only watches Fox News XD

[efhmc]

51. Are they in yet?