Wisconsin Senators Propose Appointing Judges After Alleged Judge-on-Judge Assault

In the wake of Justice David Prosser’s alleged assault on fellow Justice Ann Walsh Bradley, Wisconsin state Sens. Dale Schultz (R) and Tim Cullen (D) propose appointing new judges rather than having them compete for judgeships in contentious elections. During Prosser’s recent reelection bid, corporate front groups — including one with close ties to the Koch brothers — massively outspent supporters of Prosser’s opponent to hand Justice Prosser the narrowest of electoral victories. Prosser subsequently cast the key fourth vote allowing Gov. Scott Walker’s (R) attack on public sector unions to survive a legal challenge.