Senior Judge and Detroit legend Damon Keith once wrote, “Democracy dies behind closed doors.”

In an event that is believed to be unprecedented in Michigan history, public access to the Capitol building was closed off on Dec. 6, 2012 just as a highly controversial right-to-work law was being introduced. For over four hours, members of the public—including union members, journalists, lobbyists, and other concerned citizens—were prevented from going inside as debates were occurring and votes were cast.

During the December 6, 2012 “lame duck” session of the state legislature, the Capitol doors were locked for several hours, keeping out thousands of people who had gathered at the Capitol to protest proposed legislation.

While the doors were locked, the legislature passed several controversial bills, including the unpopular “Right to Work” bill whose validity is now being challenged by the ACLU of Michigan.

LANSING, Mich. – The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan and a coalition of labor unions asked a judge today to strike down the recently passed right-to-work law because it was enacted while the public was locked out of the Capitol in violation of the Open Meetings Act, the First Amendment, and the Michigan Constitution. The case, filed on behalf of a journalist, citizens, legislators, and unions, charges that government officials, in an unprecedented assault on democracy, deprived the public of their right to participate in the legislative process.