On Wisconsin
More on the charge that a conservative judge on Wisconsin's high court put another in a choke hold. The original story doesn't seem to be holding up. The accusing judge, however, is not backing down, and may have backed herself into a position where she can't back down and remain on the court.
From this remove I can't say who's guilty or innocent. The way the story got out, however, stinks to high heaven. Even the investigation itself seems to raise issues:
While [Justice Ann Walsh] Bradley has not filed any charges against [Justice David] Prosser, an investigation was initiated by the Capitol Police, who then quickly turned the case over to the Dane County Sheriff, David Mahoney — who once actually appeared in a campaign ad supporting the reelection of Chief Justice Abrahamson. The ad also included not-yet-famous circuit-court judge Maryann Sumi, whose ruling the Supreme Court had to vacate in order to allow Scott Walker’s collective-bargaining bill to stand.
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Comments :
Dec '10
Re: On Wisconsin
"Help! Help! I'm being repressed!"
Dec '10
Re: On Wisconsin
Well played.
Dec '10
Re: On Wisconsin
Thanks, King.
It seems to me there are two key elements here. First, no one seems to dispute that Bradley aggressively confronted Prosser. Given that no actual physical harm befell anyone, I'd think that if this were brought before a judge and weren't dismissed for being absurd, that Bradley would be the party at (the most) fault here. In fact, she says that Prosser might have actually choked her if the mystery justice hadn't pulled HER away from him. That also indicates who the aggressive party is.
Second, is the dog that is not barking. Bradley isn't herself pressing charges. Now I suppose there are two investigations, one by the compromised Dane county Sheriff's office and one by the legal profession. And we'll see just how compromised the Wisconsin bar really is. The key date is August 1, that's the date that Prosser is seated for his next term. If he sits then, and is removed, then Walker appoints a successor, if not then there's an election and Kloppenstoppen is the most well-known candidate.
When you think that Democrats can't go any lower...