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Endorsement of Ed Fallone for Wisconsin Supreme Court

United Wisconsin announced its official endorsement of Ed Fallone for Wisconsin Supreme Court

MADISON – Today, United Wisconsin announced its official endorsement of Ed Fallone for Wisconsin Supreme Court. Fallone is challenging conservative Justice Patience Roggensack and, along with one other challenger, faces a primary election on February 19.

“Ed Fallone is the clear choice for Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice,” said United Wisconsin Executive Director Lisa Subeck. “Fallone has the experience and integrity necessary to restore civility, balance, and impartiality to Wisconsin’s Supreme Court.”

Fallone has decades of experience in the legal field, with expertise in constitutional, criminal, and corporate law, and a long history of service to the community. His qualifications include:

  • Associate professor of law at Marquette University
  • Over 25 year as a practicing attorney in both Federal and State courts.
  • J.D., magna cum laude, Boston University School of Law.
  • Led non-profits organizations working to increase access to the justice system for immigrants and working families.
  • Recipient of the President’s Award, Community Shares of Greater Milwaukee 2010.

Conservative incumbent, Patience Roggensack, has contributed to the dysfunction and high level of partisanship on the current court. She was a key supporter of closing certain Supreme Court proceedings, effectively keeping the court’s decision making process out of the view of the public. Along with her conservative colleagues on the court, Roggensack chose to recuse herself from hearing a case regarding fellow conservative, Justice David Prosser, preventing the hearing from moving forward. Her recusal blocked any possible disciplinary action in the case in which Prosser was accused of choking a fellow Justice.

“Wisconsinites deserve a high-functioning and non-partisan Supreme Court to protect our system of checks and balances,” Subeck added. “Fallone will help restore civility and trust in our state’s highest court. United Wisconsin is proud to endorse Ed Fallone for Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice.”

                                                       # # #

United Wisconsin is an independent, grassroots organization of citizens restoring the Wisconsin tradition of democracy in action. For more information, visit our website at www.unitedwisconsin.com.

Bren February 7, 2013 at 08:54 pm
Here's my issue. Why did Roggensack recuse herself from the Prosser case, undermining the Wisconsin Judicial Commission? He should never have been re-elected in the first place, given his reputation for uneven temperament, iffy campaign financing, etc. Surely Wisconsin has better true conservatives with the appropriate credentials. But alas. In the specific issue of Prosser v. Bradley (in which "v" stands for "defensive chokehold") how does letting the man get away with this help him change his behavior? The Bradley incident was not the first time Prosser had treated a female colleague with disdain/disrespect. It's the state Supreme Court for heaven's sake. Even a chastisement without suspension or fines would have been something. Her recusement suggests that she puts politics first, justice second. And if your job is Supreme Court Justice, that's a concern.
CowDung February 7, 2013 at 09:01 pm
Wasn't Roggensack a material witness to the 'incident'? It was proper for her to recuse herself...
CowDung February 7, 2013 at 09:09 pm
You may want to rethink your 'concern', Bren.
It seems that it wasn't 'putting politics first', but rather state law that required Roggensack to withdraw. "Roggensack said she had no choice but to withdraw, saying she was a material witness to the Bradley altercation. And Roggensack – who, like Prosser, is part of the court’s four-member conservative majority – said it’s against the law for judges to take part in cases in which they were witnesses." http://wixx.com/news/articles/2012/may/02/justice-roggensack-withdraws-from-prosser-ethics-case/
Jay Sykes February 7, 2013 at 09:22 pm
Dogone you.... CowDung & Luke.
Now Bren is going to have to thunk-up another reason NOT to vote for Roggensack.
Luke February 7, 2013 at 09:23 pm
@Bren
A witness in a case cannot be a judge in the case. In addition, you are writing as though certain accusations are true, when in fact they are disputed. What is interesting is that your argument is a political one, yet you criticize someone for making a decision on legal grounds of being politically motivated. I suppose that should have been expected, in that you posed the issue in a question that was pregnant with an assertion that was political in intent.
Karen February 7, 2013 at 09:27 pm
The protection of the minority from the whims of the majority can still waver with the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court should be held to a time frame when statutes deemed unconstitutional are brought before them. How can the Supreme Court refuse to hear a case deemed unconstitutional then? i.e. Voter ID.
Luke February 7, 2013 at 09:31 pm
@Lyle,
You neglected to tell us about how you voted on Baldwin and Thompson. How well did your pursuit of "balance" get executed in that race?
Keith Worst February 7, 2013 at 09:36 pm
I'm with Keith. It cost us a lot of money to buy that bench so we can have ideology put in place without prejudice or with anyone to question the will of the governor. By putting someone on the bench who will not rubber stamp everything they're told to, it will be chaos in the state. Sure Roggensack isn't as easy to lacky as Prosser, but still she's easy to control and that's all that matters.
Bren February 7, 2013 at 09:46 pm
The Wisconsin Judicial Commission recommended that the court "discipline" Prosser, which I define, appropriately in this instance I believe, as a chastisement. Most of us would reasonably expect some sort of caution or warning for similar behavior in our own place of employment.
So when do we start holding elected officials, any political party to our own standards? Any who voted for Prosser, have you personally put your hands around a colleague's neck in anger? Have you every threatened to "destroy" a colleague in anger? This was a missed opportunity to send a message to a man with documented anger issues. As an individual who aspires to professionalism, I do have an issue with this and will look forward to hearing Justice Roggensack's rationale on the matter as the race heats up.
CowDung February 7, 2013 at 09:51 pm
Bren:
Considering that I have never been attacked by a colleague, I have never had occasion to place my hands on their neck in anger... What part of "it’s against the law for judges to take part in cases in which they were witnesses." are you failing to understand, Bren? What kind of explanation are you looking forward to hearing from Roggensack?
Keith Worst February 7, 2013 at 09:54 pm
I'm with Keith Best! Seriously, if you want a qualified person to endorse you, it's Scott Walker. That man knows character and has always made sure to hire the most upstanding citizens in the state! Russ Feingold has hired criminals in his office unlike Scott Walker!
Lyle Ruble February 7, 2013 at 10:19 pm
@Karen....When and what cases are heard is the privilege of the Supreme Courts. As in the case of the Voter ID law, the court is letting it go through the lower courts before it decides whether or not they will take it up. There are many variables involved and it is never certain what will be heard or if they will just allow the lower ruling to stand.
Dirk Gutzmiller February 7, 2013 at 10:52 pm
Luke - I had no idea you lived out of state.
Dirk Gutzmiller February 7, 2013 at 11:01 pm
The big question now is if Roggensack will also claim she was hit by one of the liberal judges,
Keith Best February 7, 2013 at 11:04 pm
That "citizenry" learned that Feingold has more in common with Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez than he does with most of the people in this state. And go stick your "Chatty Cathy"....my opinions are my own.
Dirk Gutzmiller February 7, 2013 at 11:21 pm
The Feingold bashing is starting among the Walker supporters like Keith Best. Tammy has shown the way for Russ to run against Walker in 2014 for Governor.
Bren February 7, 2013 at 11:25 pm
Cow; there's a difference between what occurred through the DA's office and special prosecutor, who ruled there wasn't enough evidence to support prosecution, and the post-decision ethics complaint filed by the WJC. (The WJC and the Dane County Sheriff's office opened the initial investigation.) Prosser has been at the center of controversy before for what are termed "outbursts," the latest before the Bradley incident was in 2010 directed at Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson (he called her a b---h and threatened to "destroy" her). In that instance he admitted that he "overreacted" but didn't apologize. That's just not professional behavior. I maintain my view that some step should have been taken to rebuke his behavior, including (my opinion) a recommendation for anger management therapy.
I'll be waiting to hear Roggensack explain what, if anything (including unofficial) conversation was had with Prosser about the incident, which was by no means isolated. This may seem a small matter, but consider, if this is what colleagues have to deal with imagine but subordinates might be going through (and if rumors are to be believe he is "difficult"). We the taxpayers pay Prosser and his subordinates, and it makes me uncomfortable that I am supporting bad behavior without a scrap of accountability.
Avenging Angel February 7, 2013 at 11:27 pm
The left is trying to neutralize duly elected legislators. They can't win the elections, so they will now try to legislate from the bench. Keep the court, vote for Roggensack.
Dirk Gutzmiller February 7, 2013 at 11:39 pm
Keep the national joke going called the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Vote for Roggensack.
Keith Best February 7, 2013 at 11:44 pm
Another coward who has to hide behind a screen name............
Jeff Christensen February 7, 2013 at 11:49 pm
@Keith - You have zero evidence to back your claim of Fallone "making law from the bench". Its funny on both sides how judges we disagree with are "activist".
Try dumping the awful talking points from the GOP executive board in Waukesha and try having a discussion with the Patch community.
Jeff Christensen February 7, 2013 at 11:51 pm
@Keith - If this is the rhetoric of the Waukesha GOP Executive Board, then I pity the condition that your party is in.
Please try laying off the childish rhetoric and try having a discussion with the Patch community.
Keith Worst February 8, 2013 at 12:10 am
You're right Keith. This "Mr. Christensen" hides behind a faux name in order to cowardly besmirch the good name of grand Republicans who we have taken the time to caress into obedient servants to the cause. Too much hard work goes into securing people to vote for our interests with people like "Jeff" trying to wreck our good name. Come out of the shadows "Mr. Christensen." Keith is right to stop hiding behind the name!
Keith Worst February 8, 2013 at 12:14 am
Agreed. Anyone group or person who refuses the orders of Scott Walker or The Party at any given time is not worth listening to. Just think. If Patience loses we might not be allowed to mine the snot out of northern Wisconsin for profit. And once we drive them off the land with the poisoned water from the mines, they will be forced to move to our area where they will have to purchase homes from us. It's a win-win that Roggy already has promised to do as instructed and allow for the mine to go through.
Keith Worst February 8, 2013 at 12:22 am
Keith Best hits it out of the ballpark again! Feingold was willing to "talk" with people like Castro and Chavez. What a snob. Now Roggy pals around with Scott Walker. A man who chums around with a man connected to white supremacists with pride. And Keith isn't afraid to show he's still proud of Walker by doing so by making his profile picture of that of the leader of The Party.
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/01/ron-robinson-james-b-taylor-young-americas-foundation-white-nationalists Once we get Roggy back in we can wipe our butts with the law and force the rest of the slobs to obey The Party law! Roggy '13 WALKER '14 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CowDung February 8, 2013 at 01:03 am
What about Bradley's bad behavior, Bren?
Luke February 8, 2013 at 01:59 am
Dirk - I couldn't agree more. You have no idea.
Greg February 8, 2013 at 02:50 am
Liberal activist judges are getting the bad press, for good reason.
“Today’s federal court ruling confirms what we’ve known all along: Act 10 is constitutional. What we’ve seen in this case–and with so many others before it is that a liberal Dane County judge made a political, not a legal, decision.”
Bren February 8, 2013 at 03:51 am
There were accusations that Bradley "charged" him but others say that she told him to leave her office because he was having an outburst. I'm thinking this is a volatile guy who has lashed out at a female justice for the second time in 2 years, this time physically. Remember that former Gov. Patrick Lucey, who was Prosser's campaign co-chair, resigned saying that Prosser demonstrated "disturbing distemper and lack of civility." Who'd want to work for this guy?
CowDung February 8, 2013 at 01:22 pm
Yes--Bradley charged him. She was the aggressor.
It's pretty clear that Prosser was defending himself as the incident took place near the door. If Prosser were the aggressor, he would have been moving toward her and the contact would have been made further into the room. It sounds like Bradley has some problems with anger as well.

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