# Internal conflict in the Wisconsin Supreme Court **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [August 29, 2023, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internal-conflict-in-the-wisconsin-supreme-court/989277 "2023-08-29T10:29:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2023, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internal-conflict-in-the-wisconsin-supreme-court/989277/21 "2023-08-30T13:46:07Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > …it opened the door to making this a thread for general conservative-bashing instead of discussion of this particular issue. The issue is literally a conservative bashing liberals. I would expect conservative bashing to appear in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2023, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internal-conflict-in-the-wisconsin-supreme-court/989277/22 "2023-08-30T15:33:08Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > We can then turn the courts into the same elementary school playground that is current political discourse. What could go wrong with a complete lack of adults in the room. My elementary school playground isn’t like that, because the adults step in when things get too bananas. Thing is, the adults have two properties: 1. They have pretty clear authority over everyone else on the playground; and 2. The adults aren’t the ones throwing mud at each other. Liberals can’t possibly play the role of adults on the playground, because they lack #1. If throwing mud is the way that things actually get done, it’s counterproductive to pretend to be “adults” by forgoing #2. ---
**Author:** ![DeadTreasSecretaries](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deadtreassecretaries/32/4817_2.png) [@DeadTreasSecretaries](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadTreasSecretaries)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2023, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internal-conflict-in-the-wisconsin-supreme-court/989277/23 "2023-09-08T03:43:46Z")
So it looks like the Wisconsin GOP-controlled legislature has the ability to effectively nullify the liberal majority on the court. Wisconsin’s constitution says that an impeached official can’t continue to do their duty until the impeachment process ends – so the legislature can just use continuous impeachments to indefinitely prevent the liberal justices from having an effective majority. > **[The Republican Party’s plan to rule the state of Wisconsin forever, explained](https://www.vox.com/scotus/23861973/wisconsin-gerrymander-republican-impeachment-justice-protasiewicz-supreme-court)** > > Wisconsin’s legislature is gerrymandered to ensure that Democrats will never win it. Republicans have a plan to keep it that way. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2023, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internal-conflict-in-the-wisconsin-supreme-court/989277/24 "2023-09-08T09:06:10Z")
There’s a counter of sorts to the impeachment thing. If the impeached justice resigns, that terminates the impeachment. Then the Governor could reappoint the justice to the court. The only downside is that the reappointed justice has to run for reelection sooner than they normally would. ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2023, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internal-conflict-in-the-wisconsin-supreme-court/989277/25 "2023-09-08T17:23:38Z")
> [@DeadTreasSecretaries](#): > > so the legislature can just use continuous impeachments to indefinitely prevent the liberal justices I believe the plan is to impeach and then just never have an impeachment trial. ---
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2023, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internal-conflict-in-the-wisconsin-supreme-court/989277/26 "2023-09-08T18:38:25Z")
Telling the clear majority of Wisconsin voters “we don’t care what you think” is definitely a bold strategy for future elections ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2023, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internal-conflict-in-the-wisconsin-supreme-court/989277/27 "2023-09-08T18:43:37Z")
They’re trying to set up a system of permanent minority rule. Not caring about what the majority of voters think is their guiding principle. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2023, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internal-conflict-in-the-wisconsin-supreme-court/989277/28 "2023-09-08T18:45:07Z")
Yeah, the whole panic about this new SC judge is that she might make them draw fair voting precincts. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2023, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internal-conflict-in-the-wisconsin-supreme-court/989277/29 "2023-09-08T19:20:12Z")
I think that, in general and nationwide, Republican legislators are unaware of how strong opinions allowing pro-abortion rights are on _both_ sides of the political fence. I’m hoping that it continues and that there is a major ass-handing awaiting those too stupid to listen. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2023, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internal-conflict-in-the-wisconsin-supreme-court/989277/30 "2023-09-08T19:29:25Z")
> [@Lance\_Turbo](#): > > I believe the plan is to impeach and then just never have an impeachment trial. That’s where the resign/reappointment (mentioned in the post immediately above yours) comes in. They’d have to impeach her again and it would soon devolve into political farce of the first order. ---
**Author:** ![DeadTreasSecretaries](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deadtreassecretaries/32/4817_2.png) [@DeadTreasSecretaries](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadTreasSecretaries)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2023, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internal-conflict-in-the-wisconsin-supreme-court/989277/31 "2023-09-08T19:38:15Z")
Uh, devolve? ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2023, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internal-conflict-in-the-wisconsin-supreme-court/989277/32 "2023-09-08T19:42:21Z")
> [@DeadTreasSecretaries](#): > > .Uh, devolve? It would already be politcal farce, but it would get farcier and farcier the more times they went through the cycle. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2023, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internal-conflict-in-the-wisconsin-supreme-court/989277/33 "2023-09-09T13:06:02Z")
> [@Lance\_Turbo](#): > > They’re trying to set up a system of permanent minority rule. Not caring about what the majority of voters think is their guiding principle. This. There are plenty of countries around the world with entrenched minority ruling classes. Whether ethnic, religious, or political. None are what you’d call well-functioning democracies, but the Reactionary Wacko Traitor party has long since decided that “well-functioning democracy” is an obstacle to be overcome, not an ideal to be perpetuated. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2023, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internal-conflict-in-the-wisconsin-supreme-court/989277/34 "2023-09-09T13:21:13Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > It would already be politcal farce, but it would get farcier and farcier the more times they went through the cycle. Imagine it, a thousand years from now, and before every session, all the Supreme Court judges must go through the ritualistic impeachment/resignation/reappointment ceremony before they can adjudicate any cases. Small children who ask why this ritual exists are told, “Fuctifino, it’s just always been that way…” ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2023, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internal-conflict-in-the-wisconsin-supreme-court/989277/35 "2023-09-10T02:33:23Z")
“Lottery in June; corn be rising soon.” ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2023, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internal-conflict-in-the-wisconsin-supreme-court/989277/36 "2023-09-12T21:25:55Z")
So, Robin Vos, the asshole that thinks Covid is fake but still [showed up in public in a hazmat suit](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EVBvrRfWAAA8Rkc.png), was planning to impeach Judge Janet because he thinks that un-gerrymandering the state is being political. Now he’s [backing off of the impeachment thing](https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2023/09/12/robin-vos-pulls-back-janet-protasiewicz-impeachment-talk/70825605007/), likely because he’s not getting the GOP support he thought he would get and maybe this isn’t the slam dunk he thought it would be. So what’s his next, more redistricting of course. [https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2023/09/12/vos-pushes-for-new-electoral-maps-to-bypass-liberal-court/70835377007/](https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2023/09/12/vos-pushes-for-new-electoral-maps-to-bypass-liberal-court/70835377007/) > After previously opposing such plans for years, Vos and Assembly Republicans announced Tuesday they would pursue legislation this week that seeks to use “an Iowa-style nonpartisan redistricting” model that would allow the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau to write new legislative maps instead of partisans. I don’t know anything about Iowa-style nonpartisan redistricting, but if the GOP is on board, I have to assume it’s not good. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2023, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internal-conflict-in-the-wisconsin-supreme-court/989277/37 "2023-09-12T21:28:41Z")
Also, one of the articles I read mentioned the same thing that’s been brought up here. That they could start impeachment proceedings and never schedule a trial. What’s to stop the left from doing that to the 3 R judges and taking them all out of commission? ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2023, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internal-conflict-in-the-wisconsin-supreme-court/989277/38 "2023-09-12T21:34:01Z")
Dignity. It’s like if you have a dog that likes to chase a thrown ball, and you have no ball but you move your arm in a throwing motion and the dog takes off after the ball and eventually stops, wondering where the ball is, and has no comprehension of what just happened. Republicans are like that with dignity. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2023, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internal-conflict-in-the-wisconsin-supreme-court/989277/39 "2023-09-13T18:04:45Z")
The governor has said he won’t allow Vos to bypass Judge Janet and redraw the maps himself, so he’s back to impeaching her. > **[Vos now probing the idea of impeaching Protasiewicz with former justices](https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2023/09/13/vos-consulting-with-former-justices-on-protasiewicz-impeachment/70840891007/)** > > Vos is "putting together a panel" of former Wisconsin Supreme Court justices "to advise him on what parameters/criterion would surround impeachment." ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2023, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internal-conflict-in-the-wisconsin-supreme-court/989277/40 "2023-09-14T21:04:03Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > What’s to stop the left from doing that to the 3 R judges and taking them all out of commission? The lack of a majority. Impeachment requires a simple majority in the Assembly which is currently 64 R to 35 D. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internal-conflict-in-the-wisconsin-supreme-court/989277.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internal-conflict-in-the-wisconsin-supreme-court/989277.md?page=3)