February 23, 2012

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Supreme Court considers collective bargaining law

June 7, 2011 By

The future of the Governor’s collective bargaining law is now in the hands of the state Supreme Court. Justices heard over four hours of testimony Monday on a petition from the state, which calls on the court to overturn a Dane County Judge’s decision blocking implementation of the law.

Assistant Attorney General Kevin St. John argued the judge exceeded her authority in ruling the law was void because Republican legislators likely violated the state’s Open Meetings Law. St. John says that each day the decision is allowed to stand, it cause irreparable harm to the Legislature. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Crime & Courts Tagged With: ,

Panel looking at rules for judges

August 9, 2010 By

Following recent complaints against members of the state Supreme Court, a Legislative Council study committee has been formed to examine whether Wisconsin’s laws for judicial recusal and discipline are strong enough.

State Representative Gary Hebl (D-Sun Prairie), who chairs the panel, says members are trying to figure out whether additional guidelines are needed in helping judges determine if a conflict of interest is present in a case, which would require them to step aside. The committee is also examining if sufficient measures are in place to properly determine if judicial codes of conduct have been violated. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Crime & Courts Tagged With:

Commission seeks to address unmet legal needs (AUDIO)

August 2, 2010 By

How to meet the unmet legal needs of low and moderate income state residents is the charge of the new Wisconsin Access to Justice Commission. Marsha Mansfield is a member of the commission, which was created by the state Supreme Court in 2009 in response to a petition filed by the State Bar of Wisconsin. The issues the commission will address were spelled out in a report issued by the State Bar in March of 2007. “Five hundred thousand people in Wisconsin experienced an average of at least two civil legal problems a year,” explains Mansfield. “And the poorer families had an even higher need. So, many of the people who are from low income households go to court in Wisconsin, or go to an administrative hearing, and don’t have a lawyer.” [Read more...]

Filed Under: Children & Families, Crime & Courts Tagged With:

State Supremes okay vehicle searches

July 15, 2010 By

The Wisconsin Supreme Court issues a pair of rulings which allow certain warrantless vehicle searches by police. In one case, Michael Littlejohn was arrested for driving with a revoked license. Officers searched Littlejohn’s locked car and found marijuana and cocaine. A search of the locked trunk revealed more marijuana, cocaine, and drug paraphernalia. Based on this evidence, the police obtained a warrant to search Littlejohn’s residence, where they found additional incriminating evidence.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Crime & Courts Tagged With:

Motions filed in challenge to Impartial Justice law

July 15, 2010 By

Motions have been filed in a legal challenge to the state’s law providing public financing to Supreme Court candidates. Ed Hughes is attorney for Common Cause in Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign and other groups which are siding with the state. “Wisconsin Right to Life filed a motion for summary judgement, asking the court to decide the case in its favor, on the basis that there aren’t any factual disputes that would preclude the court from ruling as a matter of law that the challenge provisions of the Impartial Justice Act are unconstutional,” said Hughes. “The defendents . . . who were sued by Wisconsin Right to Life and are defended by the attorney general, also filed a motion . . . which is similar to the motion Wisconsin Right to Life filed.” Hughes says that motion simply asks the court to rule that the provisions of the law are constitutional. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Politics & Government Tagged With:
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