Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman says he will not recuse himself from three cases before the court, including an attempt to reopen last year’s decision allowing the governor’s controversial collective bargaining law to go into effect.
Attorneys involved in the cases asked Gableman to step aside because a law firm that previously represented the justice against an ethics violation is also serving as opposing counsel.
Gableman has been under fire because the firm, Michael, Best & Friedrich, represented him on a contingency basis and was not paid for its services. Critics argue that amounted to a gift to Gableman, which would violate judicial ethics laws.
Gableman cited Supreme Court decisions in similar cases and comments by Chief Justice John Roberts about withdrawal decisions. The full Supreme Court could still force Gableman off of the cases.