• Home
  • News
    • Politics / Govt
    • Legislature
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
    • Archives
  • Sports
    • Badgers
    • Packers
      • Titletown Report
    • Brewers
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support

Wisconsin Radio Network

Wisconsin News and Sports

You are here: Home / Crime / Courts / Wisconsin Supreme Court strikes down Milwaukee residency rule

Wisconsin Supreme Court strikes down Milwaukee residency rule

June 23, 2016 By Andrew Beckett

WRN file photo

WRN file photo

Milwaukee can no longer require its police officers and firefighters to live within the city limits, under a ruling issued by the state Supreme Court Thursday. The 5-2 ruling reverses a state appeals court decision, which found a 2013 state law banning residency requirements for public employees violated a “home rule” provision in the state constitution.

The law, passed by Republicans, only allows local governments to require workers to live within 15 miles of a community’s borders. While it applies statewide, Milwaukee argued it was unconstitutional because it was primarily aimed at striking down its residency rules. Union groups challenging the requirement contend it affects all communities the same though.

Writing for the majority, Justice Michael Gableman agreed with unions that the Legislature has the ability to create laws that impact local governments, as long as they are uniformly applied statewide. “As long as the statute, on its face, uniformly affects cities or villages throughout the State, the home rule amendment’s uniformity requirement is satisfied,” he wrote.

In her dissent, Justice Ann Walsh Bradley wrote that the decision grants the legislature extensive power over decisions made by the state’s cities and villages. “Instead of freeing municipalities from interference by the legislature when dealing with local affairs, the majority limits the power and restrains the ability of municipalities to self-govern.”

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Crime / Courts, News



Featured Stories

Wisconsin was better but still falls short at Purdue

Assembly Republicans propose bills to prohibit transgender girls from girls’ sports

Brewers off to 2-0 Cactus League start

Watt agrees to deal with Arizona

Brewers long ball to capture Cactus League opener

TwitterFacebook

Sports Headlines

Wisconsin was better but still falls short at Purdue

Marquette edges DePaul in Big East action

Brewers off to 2-0 Cactus League start

Watt agrees to deal with Arizona

Brewers long ball to capture Cactus League opener

More Sports

Tweets by @WRN

Get our news delivered to your inbox:

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Copyright © 2021 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC