The justices, in a written ruling released Friday afternoon, agreed with House Democratic leaders and Secretary of State Steve Simon who argued that a quorum in the House was 68 members under the state constitution, not the 67 that Republicans claimed. The Supreme Court cited an article in the Minnesota Constitution as part of their reasoning.

The Court said the Minnesota Constitution requires 68 members present to conduct business, one more than the GOP's 67 members holding sessions without the DFL.

Minnesota DFL House Leader Rep. Melissa Hortman (back left) stands in a courtroom after oral arguments were presented to the Minnesota Supreme Court at the Minnesota Judicial Center in St. Paul, Minn.