Conservative Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Brian Hagedorn will not participate in a case that will determine whether public sector workers can regain their collective bargaining rights, stripped away by a 2011 law. Hagedorn, who drafted the law during his time as legal counsel for then-Governor Scott Walker, cited a conflict of interest as the reason for his recusal. This decision leaves the court with a 4-2 liberal majority. The Republican-controlled Legislature also asked liberal Justice Janet Protasiewicz to step aside, citing her prior opposition to the law. The case involves a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the law, which divided public employees into different groups for collective bargaining purposes. A lower court recently overturned most of the law, but the ruling is on hold pending appeal. School worker unions are pushing for the case to be expedited directly to the Supreme Court. Supporters of the law argue that it gives local governments more control over costs, while opponents claim it has been detrimental to schools and government agencies by limiting workers’ bargaining power. Hagedorn’s decision to recuse himself will impact the outcome of the case, as he will not participate in any related decisions. The Wisconsin Supreme Court has yet to decide whether they will take up the case.
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