Earlier Thursday, in a historic ruling after three days of testimony, Dane County Circuit Court Judge John Albert on Thursday issued an interim order calling for the immediate removal of overnight protesters at the State Capitol and putting state officials on notice that improved access to the building has to be in place by Monday morning.
In his order, [Judge] Albert said the state Department of Administration's most recent policy on access to the Capitol, set in motion earlier this week, violated the State Constitution by hampering citizens' and legislators' ability to exercise their right to free speech and assembly.
"Plaintiffs as a group need to be commended for their conduct and during the activity that I think I can conclude constituted the largest expression of free speech in addressing the government in the history of our state," Albert said in court.
Albert said state officials had the right to restrict protesters to the rotunda and keep them away from legislative offices. Moreover, protesters will have to obtain permits and abide by normal business hours, or when the Legislature is in session, when they protest.
Earlier in court, state officials said that damage from the demonstration to the marble inside and outside the Capitol would cost an estimated $7.5 million: $6 million for damage inside, $1 million for damage outside, and $500,000 for additional expenses. But the state provided no explanation for their figures or the kind of evidence that one expert said they would need for such a figure.
Click on the following for more details: Last group of demonstrators leave state Capitol - JSOnline
No comments:
Post a Comment