Latest news with #WisconsinConstitution
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Wisconsin Supreme Court temporarily suspends Milwaukee Judge Hannah Dugan after arrest
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has suspended Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan after she was arrested by the FBI and charged last week for allegedly helping an undocumented immigrant evade arrest, an order from the court shows. "The court has learned that Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah C. Dugan has been charged with two federal criminal offenses, one of which is a felony and one of which is a misdemeanor," a two-page order from the court filed Tuesday stated. "This court is charged in the Wisconsin Constitution with exercising superintending and administrative authority over the courts of this state. In the exercise of that constitutional authority and in order to uphold the public's confidence in the courts of this state during the pendency of the criminal proceeding against Judge Dugan, we conclude, on our own motion, that it is in the public interest that she be temporarily relieved of her official duties." Dugan was charged with two criminal counts of "obstructing and impeding a proceeding before a department or agency of the United States" and "concealing an individual to prevent his discovery and arrest," according to a criminal complaint unsealed Friday. MORE: Reserve judge to handle cases of Milwaukee judge arrested by FBI, court says The Wisconsin Supreme Court said Dugan is "temporarily prohibited from exercising the powers of a circuit court judge in the State of Wisconsin," effective Tuesday until further order from the court. Prior to the order, a Milwaukee County official said this week that starting Monday, a reserve judge will cover Dugan's cases. The judge was arrested on Friday over allegedly helping an undocumented immigrant "evade arrest" the week prior, according to FBI Director Kash Patel, who claimed on social media that Dugan "intentionally misdirected federal agents away from the subject to be arrested in her courthouse." U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a statement that two FBI agents arrested Dugan "for allegedly helping an illegal alien avoid arrest" by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This is a developing story. Please check back for updates. Wisconsin Supreme Court temporarily suspends Milwaukee Judge Hannah Dugan after arrest originally appeared on
29-04-2025
- Politics
Wisconsin Supreme Court temporarily suspends Milwaukee Judge Hannah Dugan after arrest
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has suspended Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan after she was arrested by the FBI and charged last week for allegedly helping an undocumented immigrant evade arrest, an order from the court shows. "The court has learned that Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah C. Dugan has been charged with two federal criminal offenses, one of which is a felony and one of which is a misdemeanor," a two-page order from the court filed Tuesday stated. "This court is charged in the Wisconsin Constitution with exercising superintending and administrative authority over the courts of this state. In the exercise of that constitutional authority and in order to uphold the public's confidence in the courts of this state during the pendency of the criminal proceeding against Judge Dugan, we conclude, on our own motion, that it is in the public interest that she be temporarily relieved of her official duties." Dugan was charged with two criminal counts of "obstructing and impeding a proceeding before a department or agency of the United States" and "concealing an individual to prevent his discovery and arrest," according to a criminal complaint unsealed Friday.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Wisconsin Supreme Court election that broke spending records could serve as litmus test for Trump, Musk
Voters head to the polls on Tuesday in Wisconsin for a hot-button race that could offer a barometer on how Americans are feeling at this point in President Donald Trump's second term. Republican-backed Waukesha County Judge Brad Schimel and Democratic-backed Dane County Judge Susan Crawford are the candidates in Tuesday's marquee state Supreme Court race, which is technically nonpartisan -- but it has become the center of a political firestorm, as well as the target of millions spent by groups linked to tech billionaire and key Trump adviser Elon Musk. MORE: Wisconsin Supreme Court race passes $90 million in spending: Nonprofit law institute The election will determine which of the candidates, vying to replace retiring Justice Ann Walsh Bradley, will help determine the ideological bent of the court, which currently leans liberal. "This is playing out like a presidential-style election. You turn on your TV, any local broadcast station here across the state of Wisconsin, you are inundated with political-type ads for what is technically a nonpartisan judicial race, but this is a full-on political race … this is becoming a true litmus test for the first 100 days of the Trump administration," Matt Smith, political director at Milwaukee's ABC affiliate WISN-TV, told ABC News Live anchor Diane Macedo last week. MORE: Wisconsin Supreme Court candidates spar over abortion law, Musk and Trump during lively debate The winner of this race will join the bench as the court potentially grapples with key voter issues such as abortion access and redistricting. For example, there is a Wisconsin Supreme Court case regarding if the Wisconsin Constitution protects the right to an abortion, which the court might consider after the new justice is seated. The race could also preview how voters in the battleground state feel a few months into Trump's second term -- especially as Musk and his work with the federal government through the Department of Government Efficiency becomes a key issue given his groups' investments in the race. Musk has indicated he is interested in the race because of the possibility that the court takes on redistricting cases -- which could impact the balance of power in the U.S. House if rulings cause congressional maps to be redrawn. "That is why it is so significant, and whichever party controls the House, to a significant degree, controls the country which then steers the course of Western civilization," Musk said at a high-profile town hall on Sunday in Green Bay. MORE: Musk hands out $1M checks after efforts to block the giveaways in court are rejected Musk has implied "the future of civilization" is at stake with the race. On Sunday, the tech billionaire also controversially gave away two $1 million checks to attendees at a rally in his latest effort to support Schimel. Schimel, the candidate backed by Republicans, is a former state attorney general and a circuit court judge in Waukesha County. He has received almost $20 million in support (such as spending for TV ads) as of Monday from groups linked to Musk, per a tally by the Brennan Center for Justice. Schimel has also received endorsements from Trump, Musk, Donald Trump, Jr., and other key conservative figures. Schimel has welcomed the conservative support, yet said at a rally last week that he would treat any case fairly, including if it was a case brought by Trump. However, Crawford and her allies have alleged he would not treat cases involving Trump or Musk fairly, and she has made Musk a main target of her campaign. Schimel, asked on Thursday by ABC affiliate WISN to share his closing argument ahead of the final days in the race, said, "My closing argument is that people need to take this race seriously. So much is at stake. We have to restore objectivity to this court right now ... We have to put the court back in its proper role where it's not making the law. It's not going through a political agenda. It is applying the law the way the legislature writes it, to the facts of the case." Crawford, backed by Democrats, is a Dane County circuit court judge and a former private attorney. At points, she represented Democratic-aligned groups such as Planned Parenthood, an organization supporting abortion access. Major liberal donors such as Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Democratic donor George Soros have given money to the Wisconsin Democratic Party, and the state party has donated $2 million to Crawford. The national Democratic Party has also invested in the race. Crawford told WISN that her closing argument was about an impartial court: "It's about making sure that we have a Supreme Court that is fair and impartial in interpreting our laws to protect the rights of Wisconsinites. The other choice is an extreme partisan, someone who is selling out to special interests, has a long history of doing that, and has now tied himself to Elon Musk." According to the Brennan Center for Justice, as of Monday, more than $90 million has been spent in the race -- making it the most expensive judicial election in the nation's history. That amount includes more than $49 million spent by Schimel or groups supporting him, and more than $40 million spent by Crawford or groups supporting her. The nonprofit says that the previous record for spending in a state supreme court race was in Wisconsin's 2023 state supreme court election, when $56 million was spent. Voters have taken notice. One Wisconsinite who voted early told WISN, "There's a lot of outside money coming in, in our state. And I wanted to make sure that my voice is being represented and not other people." As of Monday, around 644,000 people in Wisconsin have voted early in person or by mail, according to the Wisconsin Elections Commission. Voters in Wisconsin will also vote on a ballot initiative over whether to enshrine requiring a photo ID to vote into the state constitution. Voter ID is already required by state law; enshrining it into the state constitution would not establish new requirements, but would likely make it harder to ever undo the law. Democratic groups and voting rights organizations have criticized the ballot initiative as potentially disenfranchising voters. Supporters of the initiative argue it will strengthen election security in Wisconsin and is cementing a requirement that has already been in place. A Marquette University Law School poll taken in late February also found that a majority of registered voters in Wisconsin support photo ID for voting, and separately, a majority of registered voters in Wisconsin said they would support the ballot initiative. ABC News' Rachel Scott, Ben Siegel, Will Steakin, Averi Harper, Hannah Demissie and Katherine Faulders contributed to this report. Wisconsin Supreme Court election that broke spending records could serve as litmus test for Trump, Musk originally appeared on
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
LETTERS: Underly has experience to be next Superintendent of Public Instruction
The choice is stark. The next Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction will be either a lifelong educator who worked at every level of education or a registered private voucher lobbyist who is funded by privateers. The Superintendent's responsibilities include developing standards, distributing and managing funding, and ensuring that schools comply with laws. More importantly, the Superintendent is the chief advocate for public schools and all the students they serve. Jill Underly does that extremely well and has earned my vote. Note: Her opponent never even had a Wisconsin teaching license. Jill Underly understands how 16 years of funding shortfalls have impacted public schools and resulted in hundreds of school referendums. She recently proposed a significant increase in school funding to begin to make up for years of underfunding. Perhaps the most important increase is for special education. Currently, public schools are reimbursed at about 33% of special education costs, leaving districts to find other sources to cover this mandated expense. Underly proposed the reimbursement rate of 75%. Note: The special needs voucher for private schools is reimbursed at 90%. Our founders got it right in 1848 when the promise of quality public education was enshrined in the Wisconsin Constitution. Jill Underly believes in Wisconsin's promise and that public education is the cornerstone of American democracy. A vote for Jill Underly is a vote for Wisconsin's promise, for this generation and many to come. Vote on April 1 for Jill Underly for Superintendent of Public Instruction. Carol Lenz, Appleton Here are some tips to get your views shared with your friends, family, neighbors and across our state: Please include your name, street address and daytime phone. Generally, we limit letters to 250 words. Cite sources of where you found information or the article that prompted your letter. Be civil and constructive, especially when criticizing. Avoid ad hominem attacks, take issue with a position, not a person. We cannot acknowledge receipt of submissions. We don't publish poetry, anonymous or open letters. Each writer is limited to one published letter every 30 days. All letters are subject to editing. Letters regarding the April 1 election will be accepted through 5 p.m. March 18, with the last letters published March 23. Write: Letters to the editor, The Post-Crescent, P.O. Box 59, Appleton, WI 54912. E-mail: pcletters@ This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: LETTERS: Appleton readers says Underly understands school funding
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Wisconsin Supreme Court justice rejects Republican call to step down in key union case
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A liberal Wisconsin Supreme Court justice on Wednesday rejected a Republican request that she not hear a pending case that seeks to restore collective bargaining rights that tens of thousands of teachers, nurses and other state workers lost in 2011. Her decision came at the same time the court, without comment, declined to hear the case as unions requested before it first goes through a lower appeals court. Justice Janet Protasiewicz decided against recusing herself after Republican legislative leaders filed a motion saying she should not hear the case because she voiced opinions about the law during her 2023 campaign. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Her decision is a win for liberals who have fought for more than a decade to overturn the law known as Act 10, which effectively ended collective bargaining for most public unions. Conservative Justice Brian Hagedorn withdrew from the case on Jan. 30. Hagedorn helped write the law when he was serving as then-Gov. Scott Walker's chief legal counsel. The court's decision not to immediately hear the case means it is almost certain not to consider it until after the April 1 election. That election will determine whether liberals maintain their majority on the court. Even if the conservative wins, due to Hagedorn's recusal, the court would be split 3-3 between liberal and conservative justices when considering the case. The attorney and spokesperson for unions that asked for the court to immediately hear the case did not return emails seeking comment. Wisconsin's anti-union law has been challenged for years Seven unions representing teachers and other public workers in Wisconsin filed the lawsuit seeking to overturn the anti-union 2011 law, known as Act 10. The law had withstood numerous legal challenges before a Dane County circuit court judge in December found the bulk of it to be unconstitutional, setting up the appeal to the state Supreme Court. The Act 10 law effectively ended collective bargaining for most public unions by allowing them to bargain solely over base wage increases no greater than inflation. It also disallowed the automatic withdrawal of union dues, required annual recertification votes for unions, and forced public workers to pay more for health insurance and retirement benefits. Dane County Circuit Judge Jacob Frost in December ruled that the law violates equal protection guarantees in the Wisconsin Constitution by dividing public employees into 'general' and 'public safety' employees. Under the ruling, all public sector workers who lost their collective bargaining power would have it restored to what was in place before 2011. The judge put the ruling on hold pending the appeal. The union law divided Wisconsin and the country The law's introduction in 2011 spurred massive protests that stretched on for weeks. It made Wisconsin the center of a national fight over union rights, catapulted Walker onto the national stage, sparked an unsuccessful recall campaign and laid the groundwork for Walker's failed 2016 presidential bid. The law's adoption led to a dramatic decrease in union membership across the state. The nonpartisan Wisconsin Policy Forum said in a 2022 analysis that since 2000, Wisconsin had the largest decline in the proportion of its workforce that is unionized. In 2015, the GOP-controlled Wisconsin Legislature approved a right-to-work law that limited the power of private-sector unions. If the lawsuit is successful, all public sector workers who lost their collective bargaining power will have it restored. They would be treated the same as the police, firefighter and other public safety unions who remain exempt. Divisions remain over the effectiveness of the law Supporters of the law have said it gave local governments more control over workers and the powers they needed to cut costs. Repealing the law, which allowed schools and local governments to raise money through higher employee contributions for benefits, would bankrupt those entities, backers of Act 10 have argued. Democratic opponents argue that the law has hurt schools and other government agencies by taking away the ability of employees to collectively bargain for their pay and working conditions. Republicans wanted Protasiewicz to not hear the case Protasiewicz is the court's newest member and ran in 2023 as an opponent of the union law. Her victory gave liberals the majority on the court for the first time in 15 years. That majority is on the line again in the April 1 Supreme Court election to fill the seat of a retiring liberal justice. Protasiewicz said during her campaign that she believes Act 10 is unconstitutional. She also told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that she would consider recusing herself from any case challenging the law. Protasiewicz participated in protests against it and signed the petition to recall Walker. In her response to the Legislature's request that she not hear the case, Protasiewicz said she could hear the case fairly. 'I am confident that I can, in fact and appearance, act in an impartial manner in this case,' she said. Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, who sought her recusal, did not return emails seeking comment.
