Walker had no comment on the ruling. DOA Secretary Mike Huebsch said the case would be pursued before the Supreme Court.

State Rep. Peter Barca, D-Kenosha, who was the lone Democrat at the March 9 legislative conference committee meeting, applauded the ruling.

"This ruling sets an important precedent that when the Legislature meets, the people must have a seat at the table," Barca said. "This is a huge victory for Wisconsin democracy."

During the meeting, Barca accused Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald of violating the open meetings law.

At the heart of Sumi's decision is whether the conference committee that met on March 9 to whittle fiscal elements from what was then Walker's budget repair bill had given proper public notice of its meeting under the state's open meetings law.

The law requires 24 hours' notice, or two hours' notice if "good cause" is shown. Sumi ruled that neither standard was met. Because of that, she wrote, the law is void.