As if the judicial branch is not a fundamental aspect of any democratic society? What nonsense! I guess courts only count to the rightards if they are impeaching a popularly elected democrat.

So speaking of defying the democratic system...

Dane County Judge Maryann Sumi has just blocked -- again -- Gov. Scott Walker's (R-WI) new law curtailing public employee unions, after the state Republican leadership moved last Friday to circumvent her previous order that blocked the law on procedural grounds. But that's not the end of the discussion, as it appears the state will continue to defy the order.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports:

"Further implementation of the act is enjoined," said Dane County Judge Maryann Sumi. She noted her original restraining order issued earlier this month was clear in saying that the state should not proceed with implementing the law. The Walker administration did so after the bill was published Friday by a state agency not included in Sumi's earlier temporary restraining order.

"Apparently that language was either misunderstood or ignored, but what I said was the further implementation of Act 10 was enjoined. That is what I now want to make crystal clear," she said. But minutes later, outside the court room, Assistant Attorney General Steven Means said the legislation "absolutely" is still in effect.

The Wisconsin State Journal also reports that Sumi has threatened sanctions:

Sumi made her ruling at the end of a day of testimony in the open meetings lawsuit brought by Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne. The hearing is scheduled to conclude on Friday. "Now that I've made my earlier order as clear as it possibly can be, I must state that those who act in open and willful defiance of the court order place not only themselves at peril of sanctions, they also jeopardize the financial and the governmental stability of the state of Wisconsin," Sumi said.

Following Sumi's order, the state Democratic Party released this statement from chairman Mike Tate:

"Judge Sumi's order is a clear rebuke of the lawless reign of Scott Walker. He and his Republican lapdogs have behaved as laws unto themselves in their union-busting state-rending power grab. At the end of the day, the law will prevail and the Constitution will endure against all the insult this crew has committed to the rule of law."