Pines challenges Van Hollen over Walker comments

By The Associated Press

CREATED Sep. 18, 2012

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  • Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen. | Photo: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

MADISON- An attorney who brought the successful lawsuit against Gov. Scott Walker's union law is challenging Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen over comments Walker made critical of the judge in the case.

Attorney Lester Pines sent Van Hollen a letter Tuesday asking him to clarify whether he accepts the authority of Dane County Circuit Judge Juan Colas to preside over the case given that Walker had called him a "liberal activist judge" who "imposed his personal political beliefs on all of us."

Pines says it is unacceptable for Van Hollen to say nothing while his client, Walker, accuses a judge of bias and prejudice.

Van Hollen told The Associated Press in an interview on Monday that he didn't want to comment on Walker's statements or "go into Colas' head."