Republican legislators requested SCOW Justice Janet Protasiewicz to make public any unreleased but dismissed allegations that she violated the code of judicial conduct.
Put another way, the legislators wanted Protasiewicz to assist them in carrying out their public campaign against her. Who wouldn't jump at that opportunity?
The five majority members of the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee signing the Sept. 8 letter were Senators Van Wangaard, Andre Jacque, Eric Wimberger, Jesse James, and Dan Knodl.
Complaints filed with the state Judicial Commission, as those against Protasiewicz were, are confidential unless the judge at issue waives confidentiality in writing. Protasiewicz earlier this month released the Commission letter dismissing the complaints. The five said that Protasiewicz also released only one of "several" complaints.
Republicans have alleged that Protasiewicz prejudged the two redistricting cases pending before the Supreme Court. They cite comments she made during her campaign that legislative maps are “rigged” and “unfair” and the nearly $10 million in donations she received from the Democratic Party.
Protasiewicz shut the five down quickly "Because several you are named parties in those cases, and because your letter therefore overlaps with the subject matter of proceedings in the litigation, it would not be proper for me (under the rules of judicial practice) to correspond with you about these matters," she wrote.
Protasiewicz directed that it and her response to be included in the records of both cases.
The five, in their request wrote,"In the interest of transparency, we ask that you inform the Commission in writing...that you waive your right to confidentiality in the complaints which were dismissed by the Commission pursuant to the May 31, 2023 letter."
By not releasing all the dismissed complaints, Protasiewicz "leaves the public with an incomplete record and invites speculation," the five said.
"Your conduct and comments have been the subject of great discussion across Wisconsin," they said. "You may not be aware that the appointments/reappointments of five members of the Judicial Commission are pending before the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety."
Hmmm...is there a veiled threat in there somewhere?
Releasing any remaining complaints will give the public more information about the dismissed allegations and "the operation and rationales of the Judicial Commission. On this last subject, the Committee has received frustratingly little insight, despite more than four hours of testimony from the commission-nominees."
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