State Supreme Court to Hear Arguments on Act 10, Domestic Partner Registry
By Patrick Lynn
The Wisconsin Supreme Court agreed Friday to rule on whether the Act 10 public union bargaining limits would apply to local government and school unions.
The Fourth District Court of Appeals in Madison asked the state court judges to rule on the matter.
Act 10 was deemed unconstitutional last September, Dane County Circuit Judge Juan Colas. But his decision did not specify if that held true for local unions statewide, or just the Madison Teacher Incorporated and one Milwaukee City employee union, the parties that filed the suit.
Act 10 took effect almost two years ago, which after months of protest ended most bargaining privileges for most state and local public unions, and also for state employees.
The Court has also agreed to rule on whether the constitutionality of the state’s Domestic Partner Registry.
A conservative political action committee has tried to get the registry voided three times before. The Court has only now agreed to hear arguments from Wisconsin Family Action Group, a nonprofit organization which believes marriage should be between one man and one woman.
The registry was created in 2009 by state Democrats and former Governor Jim Doyle, and allows same-sex couples to have some of the legal benefits that traditionally- married couples have.
Wisconsin Family Action Group argues the registry violates the state’s constitutional ban on gay marriage and civil unions.