Wisconsin committee discusses disciplinary actions for judges

In a new environment of high-spending judicial elections, a Legislative Council study committee is considering whether the current statutes on judicial discipline and recusal are still working for Wisconsin. The committee includes Andrea Kaminski, executive director of the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin.

In its first meeting, the committee heard testimony from Wisconsin Supreme Court justices Patience Roggensack and Patrick Crooks, as well as from James Alexander, with the Judicial Commission, and Mike McCabe, with Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, on possible disciplinary actions for justices accused of violating the judicial code of conduct.

According to the Wisconsin Public Radio, Justice Crooks said another deadlock will likely happen, and that the legislature should provide “some means of resolving a situation that is not finally resolved.”

Justice Roggensack provided another solution: “All it would take would be a simple amendment of the statute saying if there is not a majority vote in favor of the position of the judicial commission that concludes the matter.”

The Democracy Campaign’s McCabe urged legislators to consider a new model for the process, that might include representatives of the public and from the legal community.

Suggestions offered ranged from making no changes to amending the state constitution.

View or listen to the meeting on Wisconsin Eye here or here.