David Prosser Allegedly Grabbed Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Ann Bradley Before Union Law Ruling

Wisconsin state Supreme Court Justice David Prosser allegedly grabbed one of his colleagues around the neck prior to the court's recent decision to allow controversial restrictions on unions to take effect, the Wisconsin State Journal reports.

According to the State Journal, Prosser purportedly grabbed fellow Justice Ann Bradley with both hands after she asked him to leave her office.

The measure at issue in the alleged altercation denies most Wisconsin public workers of their collective bargaining rights. The legislation, which Wisconsin Republican Governor Scott Walker introduced in February of this year, sparked prolonged protests and thrust the Badger State into the national spotlight.

The AP relays background on the Wisconsin state Supreme Court ruling on the measure:

In a 4-3 decision that included a blistering dissent, the court ruled that Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi overstepped her authority when she declared the law void. She sided with a lawsuit that claimed Republicans didn't provide proper public notice of a meeting that helped get the original legislation approved.
...
Walker claimed that the law, which also requires public employees to pay more for their health care and pensions, was needed to help address the state's $3.6 billion budget shortfall and give local governments enough flexibility on labor costs to deal with deep cuts to state aid. Democrats saw it as an attack on public employee unions, which usually back their party's candidates.

According to the State Journal, Wisconsin Public Radio and the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism launched a joint investigation into the altercation between Prosser and Bradley. Sources spoke about the incident with the local outlet on the condition of anonymity.

Prosser said he had nothing to say about the matter on Friday when contacted by the organizations looking into the situation.

The conservative justice was reelected to his post earlier this year in an extremely contentious race against challenger JoAnne Kloppenburg. The AP reported at the time:

Although the race was officially nonpartisan, Democrats tried to link Prosser, a 12-year court veteran and former Republican Assembly speaker, to Republican Gov. Scott Walker and a divisive new law stripping public employees of most of their union rights. Anger over the law gave Kloppenburg's campaign a boost in the weeks leading up to the election, but it wasn't enough to put her over the top.
...
The law's opponents hoped a Kloppenburg upset would tilt the court to the left and set the stage for the justices to overturn the measure. For his part, Prosser has told The Associated Press that he doesn't necessarily support the law but cautioned his personal feelings don't influence how he rules on cases before the court.

According to the State Journal, details on what exactly happened between Prosser and Bradley remain scarce.

Comments

[Eidolas]

10:54 AM on 08/10/2011

Here's an excellent explanation of why David Prosser will not be charged with anything (besides the fact that Bradley's story is, at best, untrue):

http://www.isthmus.com/daily/article.php?article=34264

[mercedes1947]

08:48 PM on 07/01/2011

Guilty or not, the other justices have given him the benefit of the doubt. In any other workplace the name calling alone last year would have been grounds for dismissal.

http://politics.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474979528275

[saileyboy]

03:20 PM on 07/01/2011

Prosser does like to put his hands around things

http://www.fox6now.com/news/witi-20110630-talk-with-justices-story,0,7285152.story

The way he reacted by taking the microphone clearly shows he is capable of doing what he is acused of.

[pinkertonssuck]

09:13 PM on 07/01/2011

It amazes me that HP doesn't at least have a link to this story. It's very telling of Justice Prosser's personality and penchant for violence.

[riverwester]

10:42 AM on 07/01/2011

Make this video viral! Wanna see David Prosser's Short fuse? Watch him snatch a microphone out of a reporters hand trying to ask him a question yesterday. Notice how quick he gives it back when he sees he the camera is rolling! Now contrast his behavior and response to the reporter to ALL OF THE OTHER judges the reporter managed to track down. Do I think he did it? Oh yes I do.
http://www.fox6now.com/news/witi-20110630-talk-with-justices-story,0,7285152.story

[shelbyanne]

08:01 PM on 07/01/2011

He is weird.

[mercedes1947]

08:45 PM on 07/01/2011

If you can read face and body language into this, he sure looks like he does not have his emotions under control.

[ClarkOHrepub]

03:43 PM on 06/28/2011

When Librals lose an election, another election, and then a SC decision, all they have left is to make false accusations in hopes it will stir emotions. Well, it has! Bradley is going to be found to be unfit to serve and replaced.

[Box500]

04:23 PM on 06/30/2011

You are a servile right wing idiot

[Cloball]

11:42 PM on 06/30/2011

Does the sun never shine when the Republicans aren't in the WH? You guys started demanding "your" country back 30 days after the inauguration.

[Pastori Balele]

04:56 AM on 06/28/2011

Madison Police Chief, Noble Wray, should seek warrant to arrest Proser for disorderly conduct charges and put him in jail. Proser should be tried in court and the trial should be made public or be on TV for Wisconsin citizens to see the trial.

[Limburger]

01:00 AM on 06/28/2011

Bizarre - Wisconsin Supreme Court Officials involved in physical contact, possibly even to be considered an altercation. That much seems to be generally accepted. In any business setting, that would lead to immediate suspensions. Not necessarily due to concern over escalation to more violent behavior, but to prevent legal problems for the employer should it be claimed that adequate corrective action was not taken, and that a hostile workplace was the result.

If something is not done quickly, the employer, the state of Wisconsin. i.e. the taxpayers - will be on the hook for that tab if it were found to be a reasonable claim.

[TOPCAT711]

11:01 PM on 06/27/2011

Had to dig for this story.

I would think that something as serious as possible 'articles of impeachment' would be a main.

[synergie]

12:12 AM on 06/28/2011

It's a conservative who did the attacking. Were it a democrat, there would be a never ending litany.

[Michelle Black]

09:37 PM on 06/27/2011

Raw Story has a headline that the investigation has been turned over to the Sheriff's office.
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/06/27/dane-county-sheriff-to-investigate-allegations-against-wisconsin-justice-david-prosser/

[anitaportrichey]

08:42 PM on 06/27/2011

Going towards someone with fists, is quite different than putting your hands on someone. Could Prosser not walk away, or put his own hands up to block possible blows that might come?

Prosser certainly is no gentleman. I would guess that he has physically abused at least one or two women in his personal life. What a poor example of a judge.

Now Bradley is no saint. However, we will never know if she was able to control her anger before touching another person. Shaking your fists in anger is quite different than touching.

Obama 2012!

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

[synergie]

12:14 AM on 06/28/2011

Well, we do have some witnesses who were in the room to explain what happened and if there were any fists involved, or if she did truly thrust her neck at the man she was ordering out of her office.

[larmar]

06:47 PM on 06/27/2011

Prosser's history as a serial abuser.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIF4_3R5clY&feature=player_embedded

[adarps5]

12:17 AM on 07/02/2011

Prosser must go!

[anigonewhite]

05:10 PM on 06/27/2011

From the Sentinel (it helps when you go to more than one witness):

At least five justices, including Prosser and Bradley, had gathered in Bradley’s office and were informally discussing the decision. The conversation grew heated, the source said, and Bradley asked Prosser to leave. Bradley was bothered by disparaging remarks Prosser had made about Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson.

Bradley felt Prosser “was attacking the chief justice,” the source said. Before leaving, Prosser “put his hands around her neck in what (Bradley) described as a chokehold,” the source said. “He did not exert any pressure, but his hands were around her neck,” the source said. The source said the act “was in no way playful.”

But another source told the Journal Sentinel that Bradley attacked Prosser. “She charged him with fists raised,” the source said. Prosser “put his hands in a defensive posture,” the source said. “He blocked her.” In doing so, the source said, he made contact with Bradley’s neck.

Another source said the justices were arguing… [and] Prosser said he”d lost all confidence in [Abrahamson's] leadership. Bradley then came across the room “with fists up,” the source said. Prosser put up his hands to push her back. Bradley then said she had been choked, according to the source. Another justice – the source wouldn’t say who – responded, “You were not choked.”

[Allison Winkler]

11:39 AM on 06/28/2011

Choking someone is not defensive. It is very much an offensive move.

[taeyyenom1]

04:24 PM on 06/27/2011

maybe they should bring back dueling.

[Jim NLN]

03:58 PM on 06/27/2011

What a charmer this one is........Tea Partier, I assume?

[synergie]

05:24 PM on 06/27/2011

Is there any doubt?

[larmar]

06:51 PM on 06/27/2011

No, Prosser is a Koch and Friends Incorporated Team Member.

[Sixtracks]

02:41 PM on 06/27/2011

Prosser is a Political Hack