The national battle over compulsory labor union dues landed in a Kentucky federal courthouse Tuesday as unions tried to convince a judge to throw out a series of local laws designed to end closed shops. States have had the ability to outlaw mandatory union dues as a condition of employment for decades. But the question of whether local governments can do the same has not been fully decided. An attorney for the labor unions said while the federal government has allowed states to pass laws banning mandatory union dues, it has not allowed local governments to do the same. An attorney for Hardin County argued that county governments are empowered by the state and can act on their behalf. U.S. District Judge David Hale did not give a time frame for making a decision. According to a statement released by Kentucky AFL-CIO director Bill Londrigan, “We will continue to fight for working people’s freedom to have a voice in the workplace. This ordinance is wrong for Kentucky.