A state appeals court has overturned a ruling by a Waukesha County judge that requires the Government Accountability Board to search for fake or duplicate signatures among the recall petitions targeting Gov. Scott Walker and other Republican lawmakers.

The Wisconsin Court of Appeals vacated an order that would require state election officials to be more aggressive in ferreting out fake or duplicate signatures on recall petitions.

The decision released Friday reverses a Waukesha County judge's decision and hands a victory to Democrats who wanted to intervene in a lawsuit related to recall signatures.

Walker's campaign had sued the state Government Accountability Board, saying the GAB wasn't planning to be aggressive enough in tossing fraudulent signatures. Democratic recall committees wanted to intervene in the suit but were denied.

The appeals court says the recall committees should have been allowed to participate.

The ruling sends the case back to Judge Mac Davis, who will have to issue a new order on how the GAB must handle signatures.

Officials with the Government Accountability Board declined to comment on the ruling.

Stay tuned to WISC-TV and Channel 3000 for continuing coverage.