5-1-19 wi supreme court restores walker appointees

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A divided Wisconsin Supreme Court on Tuesday restored 82 appointees of then-Gov. Scott Walker who were confirmed during a lame duck legislative session, handing a victory to Republicans and defeat to Democratic Gov. Tony Evers.   The 4-3 order affects 15 of the appointees who Evers had not reappointed after a lower court said it was legal for him to essentially fire them. Evers argued the appointees were invalidated after a lower court ruled that the entire lame duck session, where Republicans took powers away from Evers and the incoming Democratic attorney general, was unconstitutional. Days later, an appeals court put that ruling on hold, creating more confusion about the status of the 15 people Evers did not reappoint.   Those affected by the ruling include Public Service Commission member Ellen Nowak and University of Wisconsin Regent Scott Beightol. The Evers’ administration denied Nowak access to her building when she tried to return to work. The regents took a different approach, allowing Beightol and student Regent Torrey Tiedeman to attend the board’s meeting in April while the legal fight was ongoing.