Judge orders NY Senate into chamber

By MICHAEL VIRTANEN
Associated Press

June 29, 2009 05:21 pm

— ALBANY -- A judge is ordering New York's split Senate into a working session together, for the first time in more than three weeks.
But a lawyer the Republican-dominated coalition that mounted a coup for power on June 8 says he will appeal the decision, which will probably further delay Senate action.
State Supreme Court Justice Joseph Teresi is ordering all 62 members of the Senate into session Tuesday morning. Gov. David Paterson has requested the action because he says there is essential work to be done.
Both the Republican-led coalition and the Democrats they tossed from power have responded to Paterson's orders by meeting separately and conducting no official business. The factions are deadlocked 31-31. Negotiations over sharing power have failed so far.