Several labor unions and the Michigan ACLU have filed a lawsuit in Ingham County Court to overturn Michigan's right-to-work legislation.
This is several days after Gov. Rick Snyder requested that the Michigan Supreme Court review the constitutionality of the law.
The lawsuit argues that the closure of the Capitol to the public during the passage of the right-to-work legislation was in violation of the First Amendment and the Michigan Constitution.
It specifically cites the violation of the Open Meetings Act, which states that meetings of a governing body are open to the public unless the meeting is held in a "closed session."
The lawsuit is amended from an earlier complaint filed Dec. 6 2012 after state police blocked off entry to the Capitol.
Police said the closure was a safety precaution, but opponents argue it prevented public input during the session.
Here is what members of the ACLU said in their press release:
“Rushing controversial bills through a lame duck session is a bad way to make public policy under the best of circumstances; doing so on such important issues while the public is shut out of the debate every step of the way is illegal and shameful,” said Kary L. Moss, ACLU of Michigan executive director. “We have a sacred right to peacefully assemble and petition our government. When there is dissent and emotions are running high, our elected leaders should encourage more open debate, not close the doors to concerned voters.”
The lawsuit does not address the actual content of the right-to-work law rather the manner in which the law was passed.
The court brief currently sits in front of County Circuit Judge William Collette for review.
- Marlon Phillips, Michigan Radio Newsroom
