A medical marijuana proposal is moving to another committee in a continued sprint toward an uncertain future.

Attorney Erick Kaardal said the misuse of taxpayer funds amounted to an ongoing "injury" to his clients.

If the lawsuit is successful, the registry system launched in launched in late September would be halted until legislative action is taken.

There are a few rites of passage Gov. Mark Dayton has yet to undertake since entering office two years ago, and appointing a justice to the Minnesota Supreme Court is one of them.

Conservatives looking forward to seeing two of their signature issues voted on this November as constitutional amendments were outraged when Secretary of State Mark Ritchie unveiled the titles that will introduce the questions on the ballot.

GOP Rep. Sondra Erickson is herself a plaintiff on the suit, and attorney Erick Kaardal -- who represented Republican lawmakers during 2011's government shutdown -- is involved as well.

Since before the state government shutdown even began, it was clear where the impasse was headed if neither governor nor Legislature blinked: straight to the courtroom of Ramsey County District Court Chief Judge Kathleen Gearin.

Gildea did, however, hint that arguments could be heard later, writing that "counsel will be notified at a later date regarding oral argument."

Attorney Erick Kaardal says core separation of powers and constitutional questions remain and deserve a resolution.

By all accounts, the Dayton administration’s shutdown playbook went something like this: Limited to only the most essential, core services, a hard but short-lived shuttering of state government would ramp up the pressure on intransigent Republicans and push the Legislature toward compromise.