Judge temporarily blocks law barring workers from office

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A Lake County judge has temporarily blocked a state law that bars five municipal employees from holding elected office in the same city or town.

Circuit Judge George Paras issued a temporary restraining order Wednesday barring Indiana from enforcing the law against the plaintiffs until a special judge can be appointed to hear the case.

All five won election in November to city council terms in the Lake County communities of Hammond, East Chicago, Hobart and New Chicago. They argue the 2012 law violates their free speech and equal privileges rights under the state constitution.

A federal judge ruled against the five earlier this month.

The Indiana attorney general's office says the Legislature acted within its authority in deciding people can hold only one local government position at a time.

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