State and union lawyers met behind closed doors this morning with a Circuit Court judge to discuss the status of legal challenges to Governor Linda Lingle’s plans for furloughs or layoffs of thousands of state workers.

Attorney General Mark Bennett said after the meeting that a hearing is set for July 2 on a union motion for a restraining order blocking the governor’s furlough plans.
Lingle has said she plans to furlough most executive branch employees three days a month beginning July 1.
If legal challenges to her authority to order furloughs are upheld, Lingle has warned that she will will lay off thousands of workers in order to make up for budget shortfalls.
Herbert Takahashi, lawyer for the Hawaii State Teachers Association and the United Public Workers, said after the meeting with Circuit Judge Karl Sakamoto that his office submitted a motion late yesterday for a temporary restraining order blocking the furloughs.
Bennett said he believes the governor’s furlough or layoff plans are legal and that challenges to them should first be heard by the Hawaii Labor Relations Board before either side can seek intervention by the courts.