State Supreme Court

Waukesha's County Clerk Not Criminally Charged, But...

September 28, 2011 by The Political E...

The embattled Waukesha County Clerk didn't mean to break the law when she held back some election results on the night of the State Supreme Court race, but you can't chalk up her shenanigans that night to a rookie's mistake.

She's a long-time office-holder who has been chastised for running her office arrogantly, so we'll see if either the voters of the County or the clerk herself will make the changes that are long overdue there.

Prosser Gets Off Case, Avoiding Ethical Entanglement

September 1, 2011 by The Political E...

State Supreme Court Justice David Prosser removes himself - - finally - - from hearing a case argued by an attorney his campaign paid to work on his recount.

For months, Prosser stayed on the case after hiring an attorney heavily involved in it to lead recount efforts for his campaign after he won re-election April 5 by less than 0.5%.

Prosser insisted he could remain impartial, but experts in legal ethics said it was clear Prosser was required to recuse himself. Prosser sent a letter to the parties in the case this month asking for their views on what he should do, and the Wisconsin Education Association Council responded by asking him to step aside.

Prosser agreed to do so Thursday. Oral arguments will be heard Tuesday.

It took public and media pressure to help him make up his mind - - so give him credit for making the right decision, but downgrade him for doing so at the last moment and after some preliminary participation.

Maybe Gableman Had A Head Injury?

September 1, 2011 by The Political E...

Bradley must have really walloped him. The memory [sic] effect is substantial:

Madison - State Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman is sticking by his story that Justice Ann Walsh Bradley hit him on the back of the head, but said Thursday it happened a year later than he originally claimed.

Bradley said in a strongly word denial Thursday that she never struck Gableman. Three other justices have said they did not witness the alleged incident.

The Wisconsin State Journal has a similar report.

Gableman is Prosser's closest friend on the Court, and strongly supported Prosser's version of the now-infamous Bradley-Prosser confrontation - - which included Gableman's recollection that Bradley, six inches shorter than Prosser, somehow towered over him as they stood face-to-face.

Justice Prosser, His Recount Counsel And Supreme Court Ethics

August 31, 2011 by The Political E...

To guide us lay people through a State Supreme Court conflict-of-interest issue, the legal blog Illusory/Tenant posts a friend-of-the-blogosphere brief.

National Lam-prosser's Missing Wisconsin Supreme Court Tapes

August 29, 2011 by Uppity Wisconsin

Reflexing his muscleBack in the '70s, the old National Lampoon satirical magazine had a brief radio series and put out a LP record of the best shows. One was entitled "The Missing White House Tapes" and made fun of the Watergate scandal. Here -- updated for current Wisconsin events -- is a rewrite of one of the funniest skits (see link below to info on the original). 

[FADE IN: Police sirens wail over crowd noise and a reporter is heard talking into his mike:]

TV REPORTER: Here at the State Capitol in Madison, an altercation today in the chambers of the State Supreme Court, where at least one justice became agitated during deliberations over a get-tough-on-crime law and barricaded the doors. Police SWAT forces have brought in a professional negotiator to talk down the situation. The negotiator is now lifting a bullhorn. Let's listen in:

BULLHORN: This is former DA and Supreme Court Justice David Prosser! Now, I know I'm in there. If I don't come out with my hands up, I'm coming in after me!