More alleged violations on Wisconsin Supreme Court

Technically, seats on the Wisconsin Supreme Court are non-partisan. Those running for office don’t declare themselves either republican or democrat. Of course, in reality, we know that our high court justices are partisan. Some get most of their campaign cash from conservative groups, while others get their funding from liberal groups. But when it comes to whether they behave politically, that is something that the Wisconsin Judicial Commission is in charge of finding out. The Commission has just been handed a complaint targeting conservative Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman for his involvement in a political fundraiser. Gableman was listed as a speaker at a Lincoln Day Dinner in Rice Lake, where conservatives gathered to raise money for like-minded candidates. That is a no-no. The Wisconsin Judicial Code prohibits a judge from participating in political party promotions and from using the prestige of judicial office for fundraising. Gableman ultimately didn’t attend the event, but his name and face was on the flyer inviting people to open their wallets to advance their political cause. Justices and others complain about a lack of judicial integrity in Wisconsin. Perhaps if they stopped demonstrating a lack of integrity, such complaints would stop as well.