HONOLULU (AP) — The state Attorney General wants to combine the lawsuits that four state employee unions filed against plans by Gov. Linda Lingle to implement three-day-a-month furloughs.
The state also accuses the unions of trying to find sympathetic judges to hear the lawsuits, a move called "judge-shopping."
The unions last Tuesday filed three separate cases.
The state sought to consolidate the cases the next day.
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Last Thursday, the state says United Public Workers joined an amended complaint filed by the Hawaii State Teachers Association and dropped its own lawsuit.
The Attorney General's office says the union action is a "highly improper" effort by the unions to choose a judge.
He asks that all the suits be heard by First Circuit Court Judge Bert I. Ayabe.