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Justice Gableman accused of judicial misconduct

The Capital Times  —  10/07/2008 1:14 pm

Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Michael J. Gableman is being accused of judicial misconduct when he was a Burnett County circuit court judge, according to a formal complaint filed Tuesday by the Wisconsin Judicial Commission in the Supreme Court.

The commission found probable cause to believe Justice Gableman willfully violated the Wisconsin Code of Judicial Conduct because of a TV ad that ran in March 2008 in support of Gableman's campaign to unseat incumbent Supreme Court Justice Louis Butler

"The false statements expressed in the advertisement related to Louis Butler's background, qualifications and experience constitute a misrepresentation of facts," the commission said in the complaint. "The misrepresentation was made knowingly or with reckless disregard for the truth by Judge Gableman."

The complaint will go to a Judicial Conduct Panel selected by the chief judge of the Court of Appeals. The panel will report its findings of fact, conclusions of law and recommend discipline if any to the Supreme Court, which will review the report and issue a final decision.

A news release announcing the complaint said the commission will not comment further on the case.

The Capital Times  —  10/07/2008 1:14 pm