Supreme Court Mulling Whether to Take Up Challenge to Pension Law
The Wisconsin Supreme Court is expected to decide whether to take up
a challenge to the state’s new retirement law in the next few weeks.
The retirement bill signed by the governor last winter has been held
up by a challenge to its constitutionality.
The parties in the case, including WEAC, have submitted stipulations
of fact, and the court is expected to decide whether to take original
jurisdiction in the near future.
If the court does accept the case, it would set briefing and oral argument
schedules. The court could also decide to send the case to a lower court
for trial.
WEAC Legal Counsel Tony Sheehan said the court is expected to accept
the case. The court could either decide the case before it adjourns
at the end of July, or take it up in its new session in October.
Sheehan said it is important for WEAC members to recognize it is not
necessary to wait for the court to rule before making a decision to
retire. He said if the law is upheld, the benefits will be provided
retroactively.
Posted May 3, 2000