Second Wisconsin judge blocks Republican-backed laws restricting Democratic governor's powers

(Reuters) – A Wisconsin judge on Tuesday blocked several laws passed by Republican state lawmakers during a lame December session aimed at curtailing the powers of newly-elected Democratic governor Tony Evers, the second decision of this type last week.

Dane County District Judge Frank Remington issued a temporary injunction under a law that requires legislators to approve the discontinuance or resolution of prosecutions by the Attorney General, allowing them to dictate how government documents are written and gives them the ability to violate the rules written by Evers shown.

Remington said in its ruling that unions that brought the lawsuit would likely succeed in showing that the laws violated the provision relating to the separation of powers in the state's constitution.

This was the second decision against the series of laws passed in the final days of the administration of former Republican governor Scott Walker. The Democrats had criticized the bill as a last-minute power grab.

"It is now perfectly clear that the beef-duck session was nothing more than an illegal takeover of power meant to override the will of the people," Evers said after the ruling on Tuesday.

Remington has not issued a temporary injunction on laws allowing lawmakers to intervene in lawsuits aimed at challenging state laws and new business zones. .

Republican legislative leaders said they would appeal Remington's decision.

"It is encouraging to see the court in our favor on some elements of this case. However, all the actions of the legislature are consistent with the separation of powers that the Supreme Court of Wisconsin has maintained for decades, "said Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald and the Speaker of the House of Commons. Robin Vos, in a joint statement.

Last Thursday, Dane County Circuit Judge Richard Niess issued a temporary injunction barring laws from taking effect in a lawsuit filed by several left-wing groups.

Niess said the parliament's use of an "extraordinary session" was not explicitly authorized by the state's constitution.

After this decision, the governor immediately decided to withdraw Wisconsin from a multi-jurisdictional lawsuit aimed at overturning the Obamacare health care law, the most successful national achievement of former Democratic President Barack Obama and a long-time target of Republicans, including President Donald Trump.

One of the laws passed in December prevented Evers from withdrawing from the trial without the legislator's approval.

Several other lawsuits have been filed to challenge the flawed legislation.