Wisconsin voters are experiencing a different judicial campaign in the bid of Justice David Prosser to remain on the state Supreme Court. The issue? Prosser calling Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson a “total bitch.” Prosser has gone public to say that he did in fact call Abrahamson the name, but he stressed that he meant it. He also promised to “destroy” her. The controversy has now pulled other justices into the fray on both sides.
Prosser insists that Abrahamson was working against him politically as well as other court conservatives. He said that he “probably overreacted, but I think it was entirely warranted. . . . They (Abrahamson and Justice Ann Walsh Bradley) are masters at deliberately goading people into perhaps incautious statements. This is bullying and abuse of very, very long standing.”
Bradley recounted the confrontation in an email: “In a fit of temper, you were screaming at the chief; calling her a ‘bitch,’ threatening her with ‘. . . I will destroy you’; and describing the means of destruction as a war against her ‘and it won’t be a ground war.'”
Bradley’s email led another justice to criticize her for airing the issue to a wider audience. Justice Patience Roggensack wrote to Bradley, stating
“You were trying to make David look bad in the eyes of others, as a person who uses language that we all find offensive – and I include David in that ‘we,’ . . .Do you think that copying others on your e-mail increased the collegiality of the court or decreased it?
You are a very active participant in the dysfunctional way we carry-on. (As am I.) You often goad other justices by pushing and pushing in conference in a way that is simply rude and completely nonproductive. That is what happened when David lost his cool. He is not a man who attacks others without provocation. Until you realize that you are an active part of the provocation, not much will change. Perhaps a third party will help you realize that you are not part of the solution; you are part of the problem.”
As the article below details, there continued to be angry exchanges between the court members.
Ironically, I recently met Abrahamson when I was a panel member at Marquette Law School in Milwaukee. She stayed for the awarding of public interest commendations to law schools and local lawyers and was extremely gracious.
Source: JSOnline found at ABA Journal.
The adversarial system is not destroying itself at all. It is destroying any sense of confidence and/or respect the public may have in this countries judicial system. It is waaaaaay out of control. Those assholes police and judge everybody and everything except themselves. And here’s a bit of a clue…..if those who ascribe to an adversarial course cannot discern when and what is an appropriate issue to address in an adversarial manner…then it is not a ‘system’ at all…it is just a big fat self serving bully with a big fat club.
….no wonder the half-wits in this society are looking to the sarah palins and rush limbaughs and glenn becks…
Wootsy was a Cat or is it Wootsy is still a cat,
Now what kind of name is that? Are you saying you were a pussy and now you are not? Did you have a sex change and finally get some balls? What is it?
“In a fit of temper, you were screaming at the chief; calling her a ‘bitch,’ threatening her with ‘. . . I will destroy you’; and describing the means of destruction as a war against her ‘and it won’t be a ground war.’”
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….and then the word ‘goading’
get these assholes out of my countries justice system please….
“My having studied systems engineering may yet pay off.
My guess? The adversarial way is finally working effectively to destroy itself.”
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More of that famous barnyard product from Brian. The fact that a nitwit lost his temper and decorum in a meeting does not mean the adversarial system is destroying itself. You wish.
RE: Stamford Liberal, March 22, 2011 at 10:29 am
It’s a bloody free-for-all in Wisconsin!
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Is not free-for-all better than corporate-slavery-for-all?
Might respectful decency be better than either of the above?
It’s a bloody free-for-all in Wisconsin!
People in brick houses throwing glasses?
My having studied systems engineering may yet pay off.
My guess? The adversarial way is finally working effectively to destroy itself.
When no viable “argument” exists, acting out epithets is what remains.
I am glad that Prosser apparently is ignorant of the work of Dr. Abraham A. Low.
I am glad to not be so ignorant. Temper is a luxury I cannot afford.
Wisconsin is great state for doing research on some adults who were abused as children!
RD,
Weaver to the exception to wit….how about those tapes….even the judges nominated by the democrats are pissed…
Ah, the glories of an elected judiciary!
According to the Wikipedia page on the Wisc. Supreme Court, Prosser and Abrahamson were on opposite sides of a fight to require justices to recuse themselves from cases at which their campaign contributors are parties. Abrahamson was for recusal, Prosser for the West Virginia rule.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Our next two SCOTUS Justices.
Are you sure this wasn’t the Michigan Supreme Court?
What a bunch of knobs.
I don’t necessarily think that calling a woman “bitch” should be a firing offense, but spreading the fight to include the whole system should be.
I guess it is better to be identified as batsh#t crazy instead of moderate if you travel in some circles.
The judge chocked when the moderator mentioned that he may be considered a moderate.
How are we to accept that adults can be “goaded” into using name-calling as a response? In a court setting this wouldn’t be allowed, so I don’t see how it should be allowed in the court’s deliberations or consultations with one another. If the Prosser guy has to set the women on each other to fight his fights for him he should resign (or maybe he needs therapy and/or medication – there’s more substantial men AND women who could AND should replace him. Hope the baby loses his election, despite Koch backing (not that THAT counts for much in Wisconsin anymore LOL)!
Another reason for the sleeping giant to awaken. Prosser prodded people into action that might otherwise have remained quiet. Now his mouth has triggered Freeway Blogging, among other actions. Action diary and photos at the linkee thingee:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/03/21/958789/-On-the-Ground-In-WI-the-Movement-Takes-Shape
There’s something more at play here, too. A lot of blame the victim.
He lost his cool, no one forced him into an act that should demonstrate his inability to sit on the Bench. Yet the judge, who happens to be a woman, is judged the “wrong doer”. And when another judge, another woman, chastises his for his egregiously bad behavior, she’s blamed by yet another male judge–who basically is saying they both “asked” for it.
Prosser claims he “probably overreacted” … probably?
Let’s get this straight, you called her a “bitch” but she “is bullying and abuse of very, very long standing.”
Then another judge criticizes the alleged bitch “You were trying to make David look bad in the eyes of others, as a person who uses language that we all find offensive – and I include David in that ‘we,’ . . .Do you think that copying others on your e-mail increased the collegiality of the court or decreased it?”
Hey, she wouldn’t have had anything to email anybody about if he’d kept his foul mouth shut.
Peossner defense sounds rather childish … she made me do it
Well, certainly Prosser is not a gentleman … one could even venture the opinion that he is a bit of a prick
Politics makes us all gracious….sorry….some have dual egos….or is it more correct to say…two faced….