Wisconsin Supreme Court’s Conservative Chief Justice Accuses Liberal Colleagues of Power Abuse
MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Supreme Court was embroiled in controversy as the conservative chief justice, Annette Ziegler, lashed out at her liberal colleagues for what she called a “raw exercise of overreaching power.” This heated dispute arose after the newly formed liberal majority flexed their muscles by voting to fire Randy Koschnick, the director of the state’s court system.
The four liberal justices, who shifted the court’s balance of power after 15 years of conservative rule, wasted no time in asserting their authority. They dismissed Koschnick, who had held the position for six years, following an unsuccessful conservative run in 2009 against then-Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson.
Ziegler expressed her deep disappointment in a lengthy statement, emphasizing that the move undermined her authority as chief justice. She criticized her colleagues’ actions, calling it unauthorized, procedurally flawed, and reckless. However, she refrained from attempting to stop the dismissal out of fear that other court employees might suffer a similar fate.
“My colleagues’ unprecedented dangerous conduct is the raw exercise of overreaching power,” Ziegler stated. “It is shameful. I fear this is only the beginning.”
Conservative Justice Rebecca Bradley also expressed her strong objection on social media, describing the decision as “beyond the pale” and accusing it of being a political purge. Koschnick himself branded the move as “apparently political” and raised concerns about the future implications for the court’s decision-making process.
In response to the dismissal, the court announced the appointment of Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Audrey Skwierawski as the interim director of state courts starting the next day. Skwierawski will temporarily step down from her position on the circuit court, where she was appointed by former Governor Scott Walker in 2018.
The conservative bloc of justices who voted to fire Koschnick did not provide any comment through the court’s spokesperson. Ziegler highlighted the fact that when conservatives previously took control of the court in 2008, they did not dismiss the director of state courts at that time, John Voelker.
Ziegler praised Koschnick for his 18 years as a judge and recognized his accomplishments as the director of the state court system. She listed his achievements, such as addressing mental health needs, tackling a court reporter shortage, and ensuring the courts operated smoothly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Koschnick expressed his disappointment with the timing of his firing, noting that it could have been better managed during the planned administrative meeting next month. He also raised concerns about the resulting instability at the workplace as his personal belongings were being packed while he was away for a judicial conference in New York.
As tensions flare within the Wisconsin Supreme Court, it remains uncertain how this power struggle will impact future decision-making processes and the court’s overall functionality.