Current:Home > InvestWisconsin Republicans grill judicial commissioners with a focus on high court’s new liberal majority -Wealth Axis Pro
Wisconsin Republicans grill judicial commissioners with a focus on high court’s new liberal majority
View
Date:2025-04-18 09:48:37
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin Republicans grilled members of the state’s judicial ethics commission who are up for Senate confirmation, pressing them Tuesday to say how they would handle complaints that could come against the new liberal majority on the state Supreme Court.
The hearing foreshadows what could be a looming battle between Republicans who control the Legislature and the state Supreme Court, which liberal justices took control of this month for the first time in 15 years. The committee’s Republican chairman, Sen. Van Wanggaard, said after the hearing that he was impressed with all three nominees, but he conceded that he hadn’t discussed their status with his party’s leadership.
Republican legislative leaders have been calling on Justice Janet Protasiewicz, whose victory tipped the court to liberal control, to recuse herself from cases expected before the court on redistricting and abortion. Protasiewicz made abortion rights central to her campaign earlier this year and also called the Republican-drawn legislative maps “rigged.”
Her comments outraged conservatives but appeared to fall short of saying how she would rule on those issues. Judges may publicly express their beliefs and opinions but are prohibited from saying how they would rule on cases that could come before them.
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, the state’s top Republican, threatened to impeach Protasiewicz if she doesn’t step back from a redistricting case filed with the court the day after she took office.
GOP senators on Tuesday quizzed the three judicial ethics commissioners up for reappointment about their past political contributions, when they would recuse themselves from a case and how they would weigh comments similar to those made by Protasiewicz.
The full Senate, which Republicans control 22-11, will ultimately vote on whether to confirm Janet Jenkins, Mary Beth Keppel and Judy Ziewacz. Senate rejection carries the effect of firing them.
The nine-member Judicial Commission is one of the few avenues through which people can challenge the actions of Supreme Court justices. It is tasked with investigating judges and court commissioners who are accused of violating the state’s judicial code of conduct and can prosecute officials before the Supreme Court. Its members include two lawyers and two judges appointed by the Supreme Court and five non-lawyers appointed by the governor to three-year terms.
Lawmakers honed in Tuesday on Ziewacz’s position on the board of Law Forward, one of the liberal groups behind the redistricting lawsuit before the Supreme Court. Ziewacz assured them that she would consider recusing herself from any complaints involving the group’s litigation, and other commissioners provided examples of cases in which they had recused themselves due to conflicts of interest.
Sens. Kelda Roys and Lena Taylor, the committee’s Democratic members, called Republicans’ line of questioning “disrespectful” to the commissioners’ experience and professionalism.
After the hearing, Republican Sen. Van Wanggaard, the committee’s chair, noted his concerns about Ziewacz’s involvement with Law Forward but said he was impressed by each of the commissioners. Wanggaard also said he had not discussed the appointments with Senate leadership.
“I liked the testimony from all three,” he said. “From the answers that I got, and the demeanor that each one of these candidates brought to today’s interview, I think it was pretty positive.”
___
Harm Venhuizen is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Harm on Twitter.
veryGood! (6)
Related
- 'We're reborn!' Gazans express joy at returning home to north
- President Joe Biden’s record age, 81, is an ‘asset,’ first lady Jill Biden says
- 15 million acres and counting: These tycoons, families are the largest landowners in the US
- Jennifer Lawrence recalls 'stressful' wedding, asking Robert De Niro to 'go home'
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Triathlon
- Review: 'True Detective: Night Country' is so good, it might be better than Season 1
- Friendly fire may have killed their relatives on Oct. 7. These Israeli families want answers now
- Rapper G Herbo could be sentenced to more than a year in jail in fraud plot
- EU countries double down on a halt to Syrian asylum claims but will not yet send people back
- Flurry of Houthi missiles, drones fired toward Red Sea shipping vessels, Pentagon says
Ranking
- Paula Abdul settles lawsuit with former 'So You Think You Can Dance' co
- As car insurance continues to rise, U.S. inflation ticks up in December
- Michigan basketball's leading scorer Dug McDaniel suspended for road games indefinitely
- Riots in Papua New Guinea’s 2 biggest cities reportedly leave 15 dead
- Biden administration makes final diplomatic push for stability across a turbulent Mideast
- US pastors struggle with post-pandemic burnout. Survey shows half considered quitting since 2020
- Bill Belichick out as Patriots coach as historic 24-year run with team comes to an end
- What we know about ‘Fito,’ Ecuador’s notorious gang leader who went missing from prison
Recommendation
What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?
How Bill Belichick won six Super Bowl championships with the Patriots
Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers announces return to Longhorns amid interest in NFL draft
Nick Saban retiring as Alabama football coach
Tree trimmer dead after getting caught in wood chipper at Florida town hall
Study: Bottled water can contain up to 100 times more nanoplastic than previously believed
A non-traditional candidate resonates with Taiwan’s youth ahead of Saturday’s presidential election
Trial of woman charged in alleged coverup of Jennifer Dulos killing begins in Connecticut