Voter ID lawsuit from League of Women Voters can proceed

MADISON (AP) -- A Dane County judge has ruled the League of Women Voters' lawsuit challenging the state voter identification law can proceed and that Gov. Scott Walker is a proper defendant.

Lawyers for Walker and the Government Accountability Board argued League president Melanie Ramey is not directly affected by the law and has no legal standing. Circuit Judge Richard Niess disagrees. He ruled that whether Ramey was affected or not was beside the point because the photo ID requirement creates an extra impediment to voting that's not included in the state Constitution.

Niess wrote in his decision that Walker is a proper defendant because he has ultimate authority over rule-making by state agencies.

Wisconsin Department of Justice spokeswoman Dana Brueck says the agency will "continue to defend on the merits."