Court won't order mediation over Ind. House fines

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - The Indiana Supreme Court has decided against ordering state lawmakers into mediation to settle their differences over fines imposed on Democratic legislators from boycotts during their two-year fight over the right-to-work law.

Lawyers for the Democratic House members had requested a mediation order after the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in early January in the lawsuit challenging whether the thousands of dollars in fines could be withheld from their expense checks without their consent.

The state attorney general's office argues that the court shouldn't be involved in a dispute within the legislative branch.

Chief Justice Brent Dickson had urged during January's hearing that the two sides try to negotiate a settlement, but in the order issued Monday declined to order mediation. The full case is still pending with the court.