Guests at Tuesday's Leaders in Public Policy event were invited to participate in informal text polling to gauge where they stand 10 days out from a potential state government shutdown.

In a new filing, the county argues that it provides services required under federal and state mandates, and requires state support to do so.

Knaak is the latest attorney to join the fray ahead of Thursday afternoon's hearing in St. Paul.

Gov. Mark Dayton said this afternoon he will add provider payments to his list of critical state services that should be paid for if the government shuts down on July 1.

"Gov. Dayton, call us back," Deputy Senate Majority Leader Geoff Michel said. "We are here ready to work." Dayton's office says the GOP is "out of touch with reality."

Bruce Christopherson, who retired in 2009 and was chief judge for the Eight Judicial District court, was appointed by former Gov. Rudy Perpich.

The filing makes the case that the courts and judicial system perform constitutionally required activities and therefore "cannot be abridged by the legislative and executive branches."

A new lawsuit pertaining to a possible state government shutdown will join a slew of others filed this week, including petitions from Gov. Mark Dayton and Attorney General Lori Swanson, who are attempting to define what agencies and programs would be funded in the event of a shutdown.

Gov. Mark Dayton defended his move to petition the courts to preserve only certain state services on Wednesday, saying he is taking the necessary steps in the event state government must shut down.

Just hours after Dayton filed his petition to the courts to define essential services, GOP leaders held a Capitol news conference Wednesday and said the governor was opting to cut off funding for health care providers, schools and transportation instead of working out a budget deal with the Legislature.