"State Supreme Court justices expressed skepticism Monday about a Dane County judge's ability to halt a law limiting collective bargaining by public workers..."

"... giving Republicans who control the Legislature hope the court may act quickly in their favor.... Tough questions came for both sides during 5 1/2 hours of arguments that seasoned attorneys said were the longest in memory, if not in state history."

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports:

Robert Jambois, the attorney for Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca (D-Kenosha), told the justices they should issue a ruling that makes it clear lawmakers cannot keep the public away from its business - especially when it is considering controversial legislation.

"If the open meetings law doesn't mean anything to the Wisconsin Legislature... then it doesn't mean anything ever," Jambois said....

The open meetings law has an exception that allows the Legislature to write rules that exempt it from the meetings law. The two sides disagree whether lawmakers have established a rule on when meetings must be noticed for joint committees.