Van Hollen won't continue to seek hold on ruling

MADISON (AP) - Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen says he will not ask the Wisconsin Supreme Court to consider putting on hold a lower court's ruling that threw out major portions of the law that effectively ended collective bargaining for most public unions.

Van Hollen's decision Friday comes after a state appeals court on Tuesday refused to issue a stay.

Van Hollen says he is focused on the merits of the case which is pending before a state appeals court. He says he is confident the entire law will ultimately be upheld.

The appeal comes to a ruling last year that overturned the law as it pertained to school and local government workers in Madison and Milwaukee. There is confusion over whether the ruling affects just those two cities or is statewide.