Wisconsin Union Bill Struck Down In Court

A Wisconsin judge struck down a law paring back most public employees unions' collective bargaining rights that set off weeks of furious protests and prompted Democratic lawmakers to leave the state capitol.

Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi sided with Democratic Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne, who argued in a lawsuit that Republican lawmakers had violated the state's open meeting laws by hastily calling a vote and denying the open access to a conference meeting mandated by the state's constitution.

The Supreme Court is already scheduled to hear an appeal of the ruling on June 6.

It's not over yet. I'm positive of that, Ozanne said. The supremes are the supremes. They can do what they want.

Under the provisions of the law, collective bargaining would have been allowed for wages, but eliminated for negotiating benefits including health and retirement.