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Friday, March 29, 2024

Report: Bradley doubts Roggensack can fix Wis. SC conflict

Patienceroggensack

MADISON, Wis. (Legal Newsline) -- Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Ann Walsh Bradley -- the victim of an alleged attack by fellow Justice David Prosser -- said this week she doubts Justice Patience Roggensack can repair the damage from the fallout of the 2011 incident.



According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Roggensack -- who is running for reelection -- has suggested the court send a "letter of apology" to the public in hopes of getting past the incident.


Prosser allegedly attacked Bradley on June 13, 2011. That was the day before the state's high court released an opinion upholding Gov. Scott Walker's controversial Budget Repair Bill.


According to reports, Prosser and Bradley were arguing about the ruling in front of the other justices. When Bradley asked Prosser to leave her chambers, Prosser then allegedly grabbed her neck with both hands.


However, others have said Bradley charged Prosser and that the justice put up his hands to defend himself, coming in contact with Bradley's neck.


At a debate last week, Roggensack promised to resolve the conflict resulting from the altercation following her reelection. She didn't say how, exactly.



In an interview with the Journal Sentinel over the weekend, Bradley doubted Roggensack.


"If she is not able to sit on the Wisconsin Judicial Commission case against Justice Prosser because she could not be fair and impartial, how in heaven's name could she be fair and impartial sitting on her own contrived solution?" Bradley said.


"She's part of the problem of why it's stalled."


In November 2011, the state's Judicial Commission notified Prosser that it was investigating allegations that he physically attacked Bradley.


In a filing with the Supreme Court in March 2012, the commission said it "found probable cause" to believe that Prosser "willfully violated" the state code of judicial conduct.


In response, Prosser filed motions for recusal from every member of the state's high court.


Roggensack is among four justices, including Prosser, who have decided not to participate in a disciplinary case against him.


Last month, Bradley also recused herself from the case.


Without a quorum, the court cannot move the case to a three-judge panel.


Roggensack faces Marquette University law professor Edward Fallone in Tuesday's general election.


The winner will serve a 10-year term on the court.


From Legal Newsline: Reach Jessica Karmasek by email at jessica@legalnewsline.com.

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