Supreme Court deadlock upholds lower court’s ruling on union fees

The U.S. Supreme Court has deadlocked over a lawsuit involving four Orange County teachers who challenged the constitutionality of mandatory union dues.

court

The week’s 4-4 tie, considered a strong possibility after the recent death of Justice Antonin Scalia, effectively upholds an earlier decision by the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which had ruled that teachers and other public employees who choose not to belong to their unions are still required to help cover the cost of collective bargaining.

The 11 plaintiffs in the case included teachers from the Buena Park, Santa Ana, Orange and Saddleback Valley school districts, according to the Orange County Register, which has the full story here.

The Los Angeles Times also has coverage here, and USA Today has a story here.