March 22, 2011
What is civility? In your dreams
Imagine standing before seven justices in long black robes in a room that never fails to impress visitors. In your imagination, you are there on behalf of a client, let's say the non-partisan League of Women Voters, and just as you begin to address the court, imagine that one of the seven yells at the presiding officer, the chief justice. He hollers that the chief is a "total bitch" and says he will "destroy you and it won't be a ground war."
Had this happened, I believe your knees would go wobbly, your mind would race to 45 high school students in the room at the invitation of the chief justice. Yes, the one labeled a "total bitch."
Imagine the shock of the teacher accompanying the students. Hand raised, "Question, chief justice, is this normal behavior in our highest court?"
(No one has ever witnessed anything like the Justice Prosser explosion in conference other than the seven in the room, so there are no precedents to guide or follow. But no one denies Prosser said those words.)
While Prosser yelled his insults outside the court his statements were printed in the newspaper and calls are coming in from around the country. "What's going on in your courts?"
Words matter, particularly when uttered by a justice of our state Supreme Court. Civility matters, mutual respect matters. Justice Prosser responded to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that he may have
"over-reacted." No kidding!
But, he explained, she goaded him into this temper tantrum. Blame the victim! I'm not making this up.
Such behavior should bring action from the Bar, but will any lawyer take on a sitting justice? How about at the joint appearance today? Will the moderator ask what Prosser had in mind when he threatened to "destroy" the chief justice? My goodness. We try for civility in court--Prosser is not the example we want to set for young people in the law.
Prosser, at a Marquette forum last night, took a stab at shifting attention from his inexcusable conduct by focusing on a post on his opponent's Facebook page. Sorry, Justice Prosser, you said it now you must explain it. Blaming the victim won't cut it.
His former campaign manager urged support for Prossser to preserve the court's conservative majority. No mention of civility.
post a letter about this blog »
"He hollers that the Chief is a 'total bitch' and that he will 'destroy you and it won't be a ground war.'"
If it was my attorney who spoke like this, I would fire him and report him to the Bar Association.
If I was a parent whose child talked lie this, I would take away privileges while considering seeking professional help to learn how best to deal with the child's obvious anger management issues.
If I heard a husband address a wife in such terms, I'd counsel the woman to pack a bag, call a friend or a domestic abuse shelter, and get a restraining order.
And if I was a voter considering a candidate for the Supreme Court, I would look for a jurist capable of protecting the public from volatile, out-of-control bullies like David Prosser. I instead find it embarrassing to think of him holding a seat on the Court. He's gotta go!
-Jeff Pieterick | Waterloo, WI | March 22, 2011
Ed: Every lawyer takes an oath which states: "I will maintain the respect due to courts of justice and judicial officers". The oath also states in part that "I will abstain from all offensive personality....."
Supreme Court Rule 20:8.4(g) provides that it is professional misconduct for a lawyer to violate the attorney's oath.
By calling the Chief Justice a "bitch" and threatening to "destroy her" has Prosser committed professional misconduct? Obviously he has. Will he be disciplined as he should be? Probably not!
-Tom Basting Sr. | Madison WI | March 22, 2011
The party that sprang multiple substance abuse driver Jeff Woods to vote because they needed it. The party that held up assemblymen Hintz as a hero who told a Repbulican woman your F@#%ing dead after trying to get a happy ending at a message parlor. The party who aplauded 14 senetors not doing their job one of whom compared Walker to Hitler. Do you really think anyone can take your call for civility seriously? or even believe you mean it?
-SAW | NP, WI | March 22, 2011
I would say that Prosser has outlived his usefulness as a member of the judiciary. Oust the S.O.B.! There! I can call Prosser an S.O.B. because I'm not a member of the court. I can oust him because I have a vote.
-Franz Fripplfrappl | Madison | March 22, 2011
current
--------
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012
January 2012
December 2011
November 2011
October 2011
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
December 2010
November 2010
October 2010
September 2010
August 2010
July 2010
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006
December 2005
November 2005
October 2005
September 2005
August 2005
July 2005
June 2005
May 2005
April 2005
March 2005
February 2005
January 2005
December 2004
November 2004
October 2004
September 2004
August 2004
July 2004
June 2004
May 2004
April 2004
March 2004
February 2004
January 2004
December 2003
November 2003
October 2003
September 2003
August 2003
July 2003
June 2003
May 2003
April 2003
March 2003
February 2003