February 13, 2013

"Our court needs to address and solve its workplace safety issue."

"If nothing is done, I wonder what will happen next in this escalating pattern of abusive behavior."

Escalating? What has happened since June 2011 in the allegedly abusive workplace that is the Wisconsin Supreme Court?
To this day, the Chief Justice and I continue to lock ourselves inside our private offices when working alone because of concerns for our physical safety due to Justice Prosser’s behavior.
That speaks to the state of mind of the Justices who are locking their doors, but what is the ongoing reality? If nothing more has happened, isn't it time now to de-escalate the drama?
It was reported recently that when asked about how the court is operating, Justice Roggensack responded ‘We are doing just fine’ and that ‘we are working very well together.
Coincidentally, Justice Roggensack is up for reelection:
A Feb. 19 primary will pare the race to two candidates. The general election is April 2.

70 comments:

Palladian said...

"Our court needs to address and solve its workplace safety issue."

"If nothing is done, I wonder what will happen next in this escalating pattern of abusive behavior."

Escalating?


Apparently someone got their robe caught in the moving treads of the courthouse escalator, is what I take from the statement.

Revenant said...

I had to laugh at the first sentence of the article, that Bradley has never spoken publicly.

Maybe not, but she leaked like a sieve.

Palladian said...

I like the image of Justice Prosser prowling around the shadowy courthouse, his skeletal fingers testing locked doorknobs in vain...

...So if you ever meet the midnight rambler
Coming down your marble hall
Well he's pouncing like proud black panther
Well, you can say I, I told you so
Well, don't you listen for the midnight rambler
Play it easy, as you go
I'm gonna smash down all your plate glass windows
Put a fist, put a fist through your steel-plated door...

Rob said...

It's the same way at the U.S. Supreme Court. All the other justices are leery of Ruth Bader Ginsberg's wandering hands.

Ann Althouse said...

"I like the image of Justice Prosser prowling around the shadowy courthouse, his skeletal fingers testing locked doorknobs in vain..."

I pictured this.

If that's what you think of your colleague, is it about him or is it about you?

Michael K said...

The paranoia of the left would be amusing if they weren't running the country.

Anonymous said...

My daughter clerked for Justice Prosser one summer during law school, she said he was cordial and appeared mild mannered.

Palladian said...

I pictured this.

"Have you ever had a single moment's thought about my responsibilities? Have you ever thought for a single solitary moment about my responsibilities to the voters? Has it ever occurred to you that I have agreed to look after the state of Wisconsin until July 31, 2021? Does it matter to you at all that the voters have placed their complete confidence and trust in me, and that I have signed a letter of agreement, a contract, in which I have accepted that responsibility? Do you have the slightest idea what a moral and ethical principle is, do you? Has it ever occurred to you what would happen to my future if I were to fail to live up to my responsibilities? Has it ever occurred to you? Has it?!"

Anonymous said...

Redrum...redrum....redrum....

rcocean said...

Is there any reason the Justices have to have so much personal contact, aren't they just reading briefs, talking to their clerks, and listening - in public - to oral arguments?

The they get together, decide where everybody stands and dole out who gets to write the majority and minority opinions.

I don't see much need for Bradley and Possner in the same room or even the same building 99% of the time.



test said...

Bradley also accused her colleagues of publicly spinning the facts related to the June 2011, while she herself remained silent “because I respected the process.”

It's hard to believe someone so childish could end up in a position of responsibility. Must have known the right people.

AllenS said...

Palladian said...
I like the image of Justice Prosser prowling around the shadowy courthouse, his skeletal fingers testing locked doorknobs in vain...

That was great. Well written.


Anonymous said...

Wisconsin Supreme court Justices are elected, not appointed.

garage mahal said...

. That speaks to the state of mind of the Justices who are locking their doors, but what is the ongoing reality?.

They're afraid Prosser will go all Prosser again on them. It's pretty clear he's a fucking hothead who can't control his temper and likes choking people.

James Pawlak said...

Not a problem. Even the Fort Hood mass killings, in the name of "Islam", were mere "workplace violence". (In a pig's eye!)

Gahrie said...

Hey look on the bright side.....it is not like Prosser is killing American citizens without due process using drones.....

Calypso Facto said...

Coincidentally, Justice Roggensack is up for reelection

No, the timing of this release, days before the primary, is anything BUT coincidental.

When I heard that Bradley had asked for increased security, I thought "she knows exactly how hotheaded she is and wanted security present to keep herself in check." Unfortunately she then picked a private conference to go off and rush at Prosser.

Leslie Graves said...

Having expended my powers of adjustment with respect to this court, it is saddening to look at it through new eyes.

furious_a said...

Somebody posted in one of the early threads after Bradley-Prosser I:

The first rule of Judicial Fight Club...you do not talk about Judicial Fight Club.

PianoLessons said...

The fact that Bradley and the freaking Chief Justice of the Court Abrahamson lock their doors less they again be attacked by one of their colleagues on the freaking Wisconsin Supreme Court (for cry eye) is all one needs to understand about the reality that these two women need to be extracted immediately. What hyperbole and politicking and gossipy nothingness Bradley spews. How anti-feminist can they possibly end up being? They are freaking crazy ladies!!!!!!

These two women - Bradley and Abrahamson - need to be impeached - ASAP ) ( Uhm - I'm not a lawyer - is this possible?) but surely shunned, rejected and advertised as "old school female promoters of a hysteria that was constantly - ages ago -attributed to women holding important government roles.

These two women lock their offices to ward off attacks by fellow justices?

This should be a major nationwide news story. I may make an effort to make sure it is.

Insane comments from Bradley - it reveals her (and apparnetky Shirley's) complete dysfunction.

IMPEACH them both or - at a bare minimum, see them for the gossipy, politicking hags they are using the 'defenseless woman' trope to defeat another female Justice - Peggy Roggenstack - in an election.

Good Grief. Open your eyes, Wisconsin. All we need for a more functioning court is to get rid of Bradley and our Chief Justice Abrahamson.


kentuckyliz said...

Love the whitefro garage. Handsome and bold.

PianoLessons said...

Althouse - Your image of Prosser as the mythical attacker of the faint hearted Bradley and Abrahamson made me laugh -

As a UW-Madison law professor, you need to take a stronger stand and get these two moronic women tossed to the archives of history.

Here may be the one stance you need to make clearly.

These women are crazy or being managed by a crazy PR firm.

Ann and Shirley - just go away. You are a disgrace to our state.

What say you Althouse?

Bob Ellison said...

It does seem like a big story. Someone is misbehaving in a very big way.

garage mahal said...

The fact that Bradley and the freaking Chief Justice of the Court Abrahamson lock their doors less they again be attacked by one of their colleagues on the freaking Wisconsin Supreme Court (for cry eye) is all one needs to understand about the reality that these two women need to be extracted immediately

LOL!

jeff said...

"They're afraid Prosser will go all Prosser again on them. It's pretty clear he's a fucking hothead who can't control his temper and likes choking people." And if he put a (D) next to his name and made no other changes, you would argue strenuously the opposite.

Anonymous said...

Who knows what's really going on, he didn't appear unstable or volitile in front of the clerks that summer, but perhaps he has something biological going on since then? Early onset Alzheimer's? I can hardly believe that Bradley would go to those lengths to reveal that she locks herself in her office if nothing was happening.

garage mahal said...

" And if he put a (D) next to his name and made no other changes, you would argue strenuously the opposite.

You seem to be admitting Prosser has a R next to his name?

Sorun said...

"Bradley also accused her colleagues of publicly spinning the facts..."

I'm reminded of a starting a new job. One of my new co-workers showed me around and mentioned that all the other co-workers were assholes. It turned out there was only one real asshole on the team.

machine said...

More guns are the answer, of course.

Anonymous said...

So, when are the left wing twits up for re-election?

Anonymous said...

garage mahal babbled:
They're afraid Prosser will go all Prosser again on them. It's pretty clear he's a fucking hothead who can't control his temper and likes choking people.

The projection, it is strong in this one.

David said...

Ann Bradley casually called her colleague Patricia Roggensack a liar. That's her contribution to cordial relations on the court.

Rabel said...

It probably doesn't mean much to the less fanatical football fans here, but Althouse linking to Bleacher Report sort of brings my internet world full citcle.

Rabel said...

Full circle too.

bagoh20 said...

How do we end up with such drama queen pussies deciding important life and death issues. They are wholly unsuited for anything more serious than cases involving paper cuts.

Rabel said...

The International Olympic Committee has ruled that Wisconsin Supreme Court Wrestling will not be included in the 2016 Summer Games.

Rabel said...

And while I'm here, on behalf of the great states of West Virginia and Mississippi, I would like to issue a hearty thank-you to the good people of Wisconsin.

Alex said...

As usual with Inga it's about the "truth of the narrative".

30yearProf said...

Hell hath no fury like a woman Judge scorned.

If she deserved the scorn, her fury will be doubled (once against herself for the conduct that led to the scorn, but directed at you AND again at you because you properly scorn her).

That will make your workplace a hostile environment.

Remember, if a female politician cries, it's a cover up.

Smilin' Jack said...

"If nothing is done, I wonder what will happen next in this escalating pattern of abusive behavior."

OMG! OMG! Something must be done! Otherwise state supreme courts might annihilate themselves, and whatever would we do then?

MayBee said...

Inga said:"Who knows what's really going on, he didn't appear unstable or volitile in front of the clerks that summer, but perhaps he has something biological going on since then? Early onset Alzheimer's? I can hardly believe that Bradley would go to those lengths to reveal that she locks herself in her office if nothing was happening."

So it is easier for you to believe someone you know and respect has changed, rather than believe someone you don't know is lying.

Doesn't that give you a clue about why she might lie about such a thing? To ruin someone's reputation? Look how easy it apparently is

James said...

Its amusing that a group of mostly septuagenarians continue to engage in behavior that should have been stamped out by kindergarten. I'll be voting for Justice Roggensack in both the primary and general election.

rhhardin said...

A fantasy world takes over for some women.

I'd suggest easing them out.

Rusty said...

Perhaps it's in Bradley's interest that the situation not be resolved.
After all should all four judges be convened, questions will be asked of both parties.
Accusations are easy to make.

Kelly said...

Perhaps Bradley has early onset Alzheimer's? From my observation, Alzheimer patients become combative and paranoid. The poor woman clearly needs help.

kcom said...

And if it is clear that Prosser has an obvious problem, a la Garage, then why did the big investigation lead to absolutely nothing? If any fact at all was established by all that investigatin', it was that Prosser was the one who was rushed by his colleague. That's where the problem lies.

Curious George said...

"Ann Althouse said...
"I like the image of Justice Prosser prowling around the shadowy courthouse, his skeletal fingers testing locked doorknobs in vain..."

I pictured this.

If that's what you think of your colleague, is it about him or is it about you?"

This

Big Mike said...

I take it that sanity is not a precondition to be a liberal justice on the State Supreme Court of Wisconsin?

damikesc said...

Where did the rep of garage making cogent points originate from?

It certainly can't be its posts here.

Ann Bradley casually called her colleague Patricia Roggensack a liar. That's her contribution to cordial relations on the court.

She's a lightweight Progressive mind. They cannot be uncivil.

garage mahal said...

And if it is clear that Prosser has an obvious problem, a la Garage, then why did the big investigation lead to absolutely nothing?

Because the witnesses are bought off liars. Gableman even said Prosser never touched Bradley, contradicting every other witness, including Prosser himself.

Brian Brown said...

garage mahal said...
Because the witnesses are bought off liars


Hysterical.

Remember, it isn't a lie if you beleive it!

OH, and the router!!!

Shanna said...

I can hardly believe that Bradley would go to those lengths to reveal that she locks herself in her office if nothing was happening.

She sounds like a drama queen to me. If you know the type you should understand automatically why they would 'reveal' such information.

garage mahal said...

Oh, they are obviously liars Jay. The science is in on that, as they say. Those are your peeps dude. Embrace [not choke] the suck!

Every conservative justice on the Wisconsin Supreme Court has had an ethics complaint lodged against them. Consistent!

Brian Brown said...

garage mahal said...
Oh, they are obviously liars Jay


Yes!

Because you say so!!!

garage mahal said...

Like you care if a Republican lies.

bagoh20 said...

"Every conservative justice on the Wisconsin Supreme Court has had an ethics complaint lodged against them. Consistent!"

Yes it is isn't it? But, what is it about conservatives that would create such complaints so consistently?

bagoh20 said...

We clearly need to ban conservatives from the bench. They have a genetic defect or something.

bagoh20 said...

That's it! Kill the GOP, ban Conservatives, and all our problems are solved forever. It's really quite simple, if you think about it.

Anonymous said...

"So it is easier for you to believe someone you know and respect has changed, rather than believe someone you don't know is lying."

2/14/13, 5:33 AM

You're assuming I don't know anything about Bradley. The clerking happened several years ago, and yes I do suspect something isn't right.

garage mahal said...

But, what is it about conservatives that would create such complaints so consistently?

Google "Justice Gableman+ ethics complains". That should keep you busy for a while, let me know when you're finished with that and I'll get you more.

President-Mom-Jeans said...

Wow, Manboobs Mahal is in quite the froth on this thread.

Still smarting from Kloppenburg's failure, eh poppin fresh?

Or is it personal matters that have you so worked up? Another divorce on the horizon?

It's okay fatty, have another donut.

furious_a said...

She sounds like a drama queen to me.

Oldest trick in the book -- battlespace preparation. Precipitate a hostile encounter, periodically fan the hostility, so that one can claim one is forced to endure on a hostile environment.

Brian Brown said...

garage mahal said...
Like you care if a Republican lies.


Like you know if a Republican lies.

furious_a said...

Google "Justice Gableman+ ethics complains".

"Busy for a while" clicking on multiple, repetitive references (lots of lefty blogs) to the same two alleged violations. Three separate complaints filed for one of them. And for the other:

"In November 2009, the panel unanimously recommended that the complaint against Justice Gableman be dismissed.[8] Procedure requires that the Wisconsin Supreme Court make the final determination as to whether there was an ethics violation.[9] The court deadlocked 3-3, and the charge was withdrawn."

Party-line, one assumes, for the Supreme Court deadlock.

furious_a said...

Badger State politics are even more f'd up than previously thought:

(link)
"Roggensack - the first justice to respond to Prosser's request /recuse herself, ed./ - wrote in a Tuesday ruling she had "no choice" but to step aside because state law says judges cannot participate in cases if they were material witnesses."

Cases can proceed in the Supreme Court only if four or more of the court's seven justices participate. Prosser has said he will not participate in his own case. If two others agree with Roggensack's logic, the court would be unable to take any action.

garage mahal said...

If you're going to read anything on the dysfunctional SCOWI, read Illusory Tenant. That's if you have the stomach for this sort of thing.

n.n said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
n.n said...

Manipulating perception is an effective means to manufacture a preferred reality. It's likelihood of success increases with diversity, distribution, and accreditation.

J.P. Morgan said...

Two issues with Justice Bradley's opinion.
(1) Unlike all the other recusal opinions (even those that expressed what they observed and/or thought of the claims), she did not even pay lip service to the standards for recusal as an excuse for the factual exposition in her opinion. It reads more like a press release than an exercise of the judicial function.
(2) Justice Bradley is factually wrong about the lack of other bodies with the authority to respond to Justice Prosser's conduct. First, the voters had an opportunity to evaluate the claims during his last election and will have the opportunity to evaluate them again when she is up for election. Second, Justice Prosser could face a recall election, if voters signed sufficient petitions and face a recall election. Third, Justice Prosser can be impeached by the Wisconsin assembly (majority vote) and tried by the Wisconsin Senate (2/3), assuming that battery meets the constitutional standard. Fourth, Justice Prosser can be removed by address, by a 2/3rds vote of both houses of the Wisconsin Legislature. These options may not as flexible as the Supreme Court's power to discipline judges, and are unlikely to occur, but these are processes and remedies for judicial misconduct.

Shanna said...

Every conservative justice on the Wisconsin Supreme Court has had an ethics complaint lodged against them. Consistent!

Ah but you could as easily say the liberal judges consistently lodge complaints.

If the complaints are real, they wouldn't likely fall on party lines.