ho risolto così:

Codice PHP:
  
                                
$sql2
="select * 
from causale 
where principale = 'true'
order by causale_descrizione asc"
;
                            
$db_query2=mysql_query($sql2,$db_conn);
                                    while(
$db_rec2=mysql_fetch_row($db_query2))
                                    {
                                        list(
$id_causale,$descrizione)=$db_rec2;
                    
                                                            
                                    echo 
"<option value=$id_causale >";  //$select
                                    
echo $descrizione;
                                    echo 
"</option>";
                                    }
                                    
$sql3="select * 
from causale 
where principale = ''
order by causale_descrizione asc"
;
                                    
$db_query3=mysql_query($sql3,$db_conn);
                                    while(
$db_rec3=mysql_fetch_row($db_query3))
                                    {
                                        list(
$id_causale,$descrizione)=$db_rec3;
                    
                                                            
                                    echo 
"<option value=$id_causale >";  //$select
                                    
echo $descrizione;
                                    echo 
"</option>";
                                    }