Seventeen former government officials fired by the Turnbull adminstration appeared Tuesday in U.S. District Court to seek reinstatement.
In their class action lawsuit, the former employees claim political discrimination in the firings.
About a dozen of them took turns on the witness stand, telling Judge Raymond Finch what duties they held prior to dismissal and what part they took in the re-election campaign for former Gov. Roy L. Schneider.
After their testimony, the judge ordered four officials rehired under sealed agreements. One of the four was former Democratic State Chairwoman Marylyn Stapleton, who lost her political position in a fierce rivalry with James O'Bryan Jr., now the governor's special advisor.
The lawsuit contends government workers who do not hold policy-making positions have the right to campaign for the candidate of their choice without fear of penalty.
"The only thing that ties it all together is that they are the entire upper level of the Re-elect Schneider Committee," said Attorney James Derr, lawyer for the former officials.
Derr said 10 more workers in the St. Croix district were taking similar legal action.
Representing the governor in court Tuesday were his personal legal counsel, Rhys Hodge, and Assistant Attorney General Karrie Drue.
On Wednesday the governor and his chief of staff are scheduled to testify. Derr said he expects to question them about the disloyalty dismissals and about new hires they've made since taking office in January.
O'Bryan was among those giving testimony. When asked by Derr if any dismissals involved campaign workers for the Turnbull administration, O'Bryan was able to name one.
