INDIANAPOLIS - The Indiana Attorney General's Office is defending several state officials from a legal action filed Wednesday that seeks to prevent the Indiana House of Representatives from imposing fines on legislators. The Attorney General's Office contends the court should deny the plaintiffs' motion for a temporary restraining order. Attorney General Greg Zoeller today issued this statement:

"The legislative process is often compared to 'making sausage,' and courts should stay out while the blades are moving. Under the separation of powers, this disagreement is an internal dispute for the legislative branch to resolve, not the judicial branch," Zoeller said.

The Marion County Superior Court has not ruled yet on the motion filed Wednesday.

The Attorney General's Office also represents state officials including the State Auditor and Speaker of the House in an earlier lawsuit over legislative fines filed in 2011. The trial court's December 6 ruling in that case is currently being appealed.

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