Wisconsin GOP leader forms panel to probe state Supreme Court impeachment criteria.
Wisconsin Republican Assembly Leader Calls for Examination of Impeachment Criteria for Justices
Wisconsin Republican Assembly Leader Robin Vos is taking action against liberal Justice Janet Protasiewicz by requesting former state Supreme Court justices to review the criteria for impeaching justices. This move comes as part of an ongoing feud between GOP leaders and Protasiewicz, which began when she joined the high court and shifted the majority to liberal for the first time in 15 years.
Investigative Panel of Former Justices to Be Formed
Vos announced on Wednesday that he plans to establish an investigative panel consisting of three former state Supreme Court justices. The panel will examine the rules for impeachment, with the identities of the justices remaining anonymous until their work is complete. Notably, former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman, who was previously investigating the 2020 election but was later fired, will not be part of the panel. Another former state Supreme Court Justice, Dan Kelly, also confirmed that he will not be involved.
Vos emphasized that the three justices on the panel will not receive payment for their work, and he expects their investigation to be concluded within the next few weeks.
Impeachment Process and Political Landscape in Wisconsin
Under Wisconsin state law, justices can be impeached for corrupt conduct in office or the commission of a crime. Impeachment requires a simple majority in the state Assembly and a two-thirds majority in the state Senate for conviction. Currently, Wisconsin has a divided trifecta, with Republicans controlling the legislature and Democrats holding the governor’s office. The GOP enjoys a 64-35 majority in the Assembly and a 22-11 majority in the Senate, precisely a two-thirds majority.
Recent Developments and Calls for Recusal
Vos’s announcement follows the introduction of a bill by Assembly Republicans that aims to have new maps drawn by nonpartisan legislative staff and approved by the legislature in 2024. This move comes as the GOP’s current majorities were established based on maps drawn in 2011, which faced challenges for being heavily gerrymandered but were upheld by the conservative-leaning state Supreme Court.
Simultaneously, Republicans are urging Protasiewicz to recuse herself from Democratic-backed redistricting lawsuits that challenge GOP-drawn maps. They argue that her previous comments during her campaign, where she referred to the current maps as “unfair” and “rigged,” make it impossible for her to impartially judge the cases. While Protasiewicz has not made a decision regarding recusal from the redistricting cases, she did recuse herself from a separate case seeking to block attempts by the legislature to impeach her.
Judicial Code and Defense Efforts
According to Wisconsin’s judicial code, justices and judicial candidates are prohibited from making promises or commitments regarding their rulings on any issue. Protasiewicz adhered to this rule during her campaign. Last week, a Wisconsin commission responsible for investigating complaints against judges dismissed those related to her redistricting comments.
Wisconsin Democrats have launched a $4 million defense effort to support Protasiewicz and target Republican lawmakers who are pressuring her to recuse herself from the redistricting lawsuits. They have vowed to do everything in their power to prevent what they view as an attempt to undermine democracy.
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