We have been following the intra-court war on the Wisconsin Supreme Court and the recent narrow victory of conservative Justice David Prosser in his reelection. The prior controversy involved Prosser calling Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson a “total bitch.” Now, fellow justice Ann Walsh Bradley has accused Prosser of putting her in a chokehold during a dispute. Prosser denies the allegation.
Other reports state that it was Bradley who “charged” Prosser, who raised his hands to defend himself and made contact with her neck.
At the rate they are going, the Wisconsin Supreme Court could be perfect for the next reality show on Fox.
Notably, in the earlier controversy, Prosser included Bradley in his complaint about being harassed and pushed to profanity: “I 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 told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel about the incident and described the encounter:”The facts are that I was demanding that he get out of my office and he put his hands around my neck in anger in a chokehold.”
The confrontation reportedly occurred before the Supreme Court’s decision earlier this month upholding Republican Gov. Scott Walker’s bill eliminating most of public employees’ collective bargaining rights. It was a 4-3 decision overruling Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi.
There is no report of an assault charge by Bradley who says that she came forward after she heard Prosser deny the allegation.
Source: USAToday
Jonathan Turley
Anon, I didn’t say he was gay. But you put an R in front of the name, give me those facts and I just go to “creepy”. I’ve been conditioned to do so by the scandals involving primarily republicans of the last 10 years regarding men, boys, young girls. I didn’t look him up to verify my feeling he was creepy, he set my creep-dar all a-tingle as I read about him. Unfair? Sure. Maybe. I wonder if he was getting laid when he voted to keep sex between unmarried people illegal? I suppose that would put him in the merely hypocritical camp and lessen the creep factor for me.
Only in the USA, corruption and greed is ripping the land of the free and home of the brave apart. LOL no wonder americans are the fools of the world. I can see Thomas Jefferson punching and biting Benjamin Franklin LMAO. Americans are a joke and the whole world has come to see it.
“Chief Justice Abrahamson doesn’t seem to have what it takes to pull the court together.”
Unless this ghoul is someone who really should not be there at all. What kind of leadership would be called upon in that circumstance?
Mike A.,
Well said. Prosser is a power hungry, dirty judge who needs to be on the other side of the bench.
It’s true lottakatz, you’re not the only person I’ve seen to make some sort of sotto voce gay bashing closeted gays are child abusers and hate women and unmarried men must be closeted gays connections.
Congratulations on being yet another bigoted hate monger running on no evidence but pure supposition, cant, and intolerance while patting yourself on the back for your nice liberal insights.
I have no idea what happened. I guess it’s ridiculous for me to take a wait and see attitude while restraining myself from bashing either party.
So, a never married judge with a history of support for keeping sex outside of marriage criminalized and abuse of children by a priest unpunished, demonstrates hostility toward female co-workers by making verbal threats and possibly a physical attack. Am I the only one getting that ‘repressed to the point of being another creepy Republican’ feeling?
“In 1981, he opposed removing criminal penalties on sexual activity and cohabitation between unmarried, consulting adults,[9] though he did express a willingness to repeal the jail terms.[10] He stated that legalizing sex outside of marriage would increase divorce rates, the number of children born outside of wedlock, welfare payments, sexually transmitted diseases, and abortions. ….
Decision not to prosecute abuse case
In 1978, while serving as District Attorney of Outagamie County, Prosser declined to prosecute a Catholic priest accused of sexual abuse by two brothers (ages 12 and 14), who said the priest had touched their chests and unsuccessfully attempted to touch lower.[22] Prosser later explained he did not file charges because the case was weak, it involved relatively new sexual assault laws that were untested at the time, and he did not think he could win a jury trial.[23][24] He acknowledged he had discussed the case with the bishop, and said he had assumed the priest, John Patrick Feeney, would be reassigned as a result.[25] The priest was not removed from duties which allowed him contact with children, and he went on to abuse other children before being sent to prison on a 15 year sentence in 2004.[26][22] The prosecutor who ultimately handled the case in the early 2000s said that when Prosser had the case in the 1970s, he was lacking sufficient information: “We were able to gather a wealth of information that far exceeded what Prosser had,” he said, adding, “It’s not fair to second-guess him now.”[26]
Interviewed in 2008, one of the victims commented that in the late 1970s he had been ready to take the witness stand but Prosser had told him, “it would be too embarrassing for a kid my age and said what jury would believe a kid testifying against a priest?” Prosser also said that the case would attract national attention, become sensationalized, and be even harder on the family because the younger brother of the accused priest was a featured vocalist on the popular Lawrence Welk television show.[27][26] When interviewed in 2011 the same victim said that in 1978 he and his brother had not communicated detailed information about the abuse to the authorities and that when the case came to trial in 2002, Prosser helped in the prosecution.[23][28]”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Prosser,_Jr.
Living and working outside Wisconsin, I’ve never read any of Justice Prosser’s opinions, which for all I know might represent enduringly great jurisprudence, but his inability to resist baiting and to formulate an intelligent, unemotional response to his colleagues’ conduct makes him come across as really stupid. Justice Bradley’s conduct in this incident makes me think further investigation is certainly warranted. And @kathteach makes a great point about the lack of leadership. Chief Justice Abrahamson doesn’t seem to have what it takes to pull the court together. I feel sad for Wisconsin and for the people who must be working very hard to do the business of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
I’ve read several interesting phrases used in defense of Justice Prosser on this thread:
“She started it”: I think I last used that one when I was, oh, twelve, and my father was breaking up an argument in the back seat of the car.
“He was provoked by her comments”: I was taught that a man doesn’t strike, much less choke, a woman for obvious reasons. The proper reaction to provocation is to leave the room until one regains one’s composure.
“She got what she deserved”: Ah, yes. The favorite excuse of batterers and their apologists.
What did she get? I’ve read confusing, contradictory reports, but I don’t think there has been any substantiated report of “what she got”.
Was she injured? What did the doctors report? What did the police take as evidence?
I have no idea what she got.
If she charged him, and was the first to get physical, physical, and he defended himself, then perhaps she did get what she deserved, although I am at a loss for why you choose to call her a bitch. I guess it’s because you’re an asshole.
Bitch, got what she deserved, don’t you think?
#Misandry Thread!
Look at all you proud self claimed civil libertarians and how you go off knowing exactly nothing of what happened.
And look at you excuse, by which I mean, encourage, violence so long as it’s toward men.
And look at your old fashioned condescending patronization of women.
Such Gallant White Knights, one and all!
Shame on you, by which I mean, “f you”.
Just like my brother never punched me, I just ran into his fists?
A middle aged woman threatens to give him a shove so he gives her a little strangling.
I’ve lived in Wisconsin and I have to say this is absolutely standard behaviour for a Wisconsin Republican, easily the vilest dirtbags in America.
Ignoring the fact that one state Supreme Court justice coming at another “with her fists raised” sounds pretty preposterous, claiming that you’re “just blocking” and end up with your hands around someone’s neck sounds even more preposterous. “Shoving someone away” or “grabbing her wrists” or even “his forearm coming up to her neck” all sound plausible. But how does wrapping your hands around someone else’s neck prevent them from punching you? LAPD-style “from behind the back” or Jujitsu on-the-mat choke holds are both very good defenses when being attacked (albeit very dangerous).
So here we are with “Mendota Shore” or “What happens when 7 very well educated people with power over the lives of millions stop being nice and start getting real…..” At least the “casts” of Jersey Shore or The Real World have the excuse for their behavior that the producers ply them with copious amounts of booze….
Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice David Prosser allegedly grabbed fellow Justice Ann Walsh Bradley around the neck in an argument in her chambers earlier this month, according to three knowledgeable sources.
But a different account of the incident emerged Saturday, and Prosser said the allegation “will be proven false.” The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel quoted sources saying Prosser made contact with Bradley to defend himself after she charged toward him.
…
Prosser, contacted Friday by the Center, declined comment: “I have nothing to say about it.” He repeated this statement after the particulars of the story – including the allegation that there was physical contact between him and Bradley – were described. He did not confirm or deny any part of the reconstructed account.
But Prosser issued a statement late Saturday saying, “Once there’s a proper review of the matter and the facts surrounding it are made clear, the anonymous claim made to the media will be proven false. Until then I will refrain from further public comment.”
Bradley declined comment, telling WPR, “I have nothing to say.”
(link)
Get It Here-
“…she started calling him names and throwing stuff at him.”
Again, documentation please. Were you there? There were several versions of the story, none of which allege that “he was bit by the other judge” or that “she started calling him names and throwing stuff at him”.
Save the fiction for your Creative Writing 101 class.
She did in fact start it, she started calling him names and throwing stuff at him. After all he is the Chief Judge and is responsible for her actions.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0611/57835.html Cops are looking into the charges against Prosser.
Get It Here:
Just how long have you been clerking for Justice Prosser? And where did you get that juicy bit of inside information regarding the manner in which Justice Bradley secured her position on the court?