UPDATE on Christian Group Representing WI Legislature in Gay Rights Case

I have posted previously on the WI state legislature hiring a Christian group to represent them in a lawsuit concerning same sex partner rights at the UW system. Today it was learned that the group is James Dobson's, Alliance Defense Fund of Scottsdale, Ariz. The Capital Times reports:

An Arizona-based Christian group that provides legal help to fight same-sex marriage and similar causes asked Wednesday that the Wisconsin Legislature be made a co-defendant in a lawsuit seeking benefits for gay partners of state workers.

It's beleived this is the first time that a state legislature has asked a Christian group to represent them. The article continues:

The Republican-controlled Joint Committee on Legislative Organization voted in May to ask the Alliance Defense Fund in Scottsdale, Ariz., to represent the Wisconsin Legislature in the lawsuit. The ADF promotes itself as a defender of family values and offers legal aid to fight against such issues as allowing homosexuals to serve openly in the military.

Lawmakers aren't a party in the Dane County lawsuit, but ADF wants to insert them as co-defendants along with the state. ADF attorneys argue in a court motion that Lautenschlager, a Democrat, can't adequately defend the Legislature's interests because she supports benefits for workers' gay partners.

This is a great quote:

Lautenschlager spokesman Scot Ross issued a statement saying the ADF was the one trying to inject politics into the case. "It will be up to a judge to decide what, other than political venom, these Internet lawyers from the other side of the continent would bring to a Wisconsin courtroom," Ross said.

I will continue updates on this story. This is an important, perhaps seminal case. If you want to be of help consider donating to Action Wisconsin. This group is fighting this and numerous anti-gay initiatives in WI.