Gov. Mark Dayton filed a petition Wednesday morning with the state Supreme Court, asking it to toss out a brief filed Monday by a group of Republican state senators that is trying to block a district court judge from intervening in the budget crisis that could lead to a state government shutdown on July 1. In his petition, Dayton argues, backing up Attorney General Lori Swanson, that the senators are out of line in demanding that a district court judge be prevented from appointing a mediator to sift through the disagreements between the Democratic governor and the GOP legislative leadership team. Dayton's petition argues that the senators' request is premature and inconsistent.
Here's a copy of the petition:
