Justice System

Gableman Company: Man on Dog Macaca?

Mike Gableman’s largest donors come from Colorado it turns out. John & Carolyn Saeman of Denver wrote $20,000 in checks to Wisconsin’s Gableman a couple of weeks ago. The Saeman’s, who run an investment company in the Rocky Mountain State, are also big fans of George “Macaca” Allen and Rick “Man on Dog/Savage Love Noun” […]

Forget Sunshine Week Already?

It was just last week that the state media did blanket coverage on issues of open records and open government. It is part of a tradition that they call Sunshine Week. Apparently after only a week they are already burnt out from open records issues. Yesterday the Burnett County District Attorney began looking for a […]

My Debate with Michael Gableman

Several newspapers have noted Michael Gableman’€™s inability to let go of his constantly repeated talking points. Even when a conservative paper tried to ask him about a case that he has used to criticize his opponent, he remained evasive. We can now see with less than a week to go, that Gableman simply refuses to […]

Wal-Mart ISO Corporate Rubber Stamps

Heirs of the Wal-Mart fortune have given at least $6,000 to Mike Gableman’€™s campaign for Wisconsin State Supreme Court. Who knows how many countless dollars they may have given to the right wing front groups like WMC to churn out sleazy ads? So why would out of state fat cats from the world’€™s largest corporation […]

COME TO RISE UP MILWAUKEE: RHYTHM FOR A REASON

For Release On: March 25, 2008 For more information contact: Jennifer Epps 414-443-0682 Fed up with Injustice, Milwaukee Residents “Rise Up” More than 1,000 city residents unite to solve Milwaukee’s economic crisis Milwaukee is facing harsh economic times. In response, residents are “Rising Up.” At 5 pm on Saturday, March 29th, just 3 days before […]

Can the Real Gableman Please Stand Up?

Supreme Court candidate Michael Gableman has traveled around the state complaining about specific cases in which incumbent Justice Louis Butler rendered a decision. Although Gableman repeatedly fails to offer a legal argument that Butler applied the law incorrectly, he and his allies continue to use these selected cases as a basis for removing Butler from […]

The Talking Point Approach to Law

There seems to be a theme developing in the media regarding Michael Gableman. It is not one that would surprise those that have been paying close attention. Apparently they are just beginning to get a clue that this guy is little more than a walking breathing list of talking points. A couple weeks ago I […]

Revolting’ Development for Gableman

Roundly criticized for his Willie Horton-style race-baiting TV spot, Burnett County Judge Mike Gableman got more bad news yesterday. Dodge County District Attorney Stephen Bauer officially yanked his support for Gableman, citing the ad and calling the ad “revolting.” According to Bauer: “This is not a factual ad. …This crossed the line. It was revolting, […]

Celebrating Sunshine Week by Hiding Public Records?

Yesterday One Wisconsin Now was forced to file an open records complaint because Michael Gableman has refused to turn over emails from his state account. He claims that eight of those emails are personal even though they fit our search criteria of mostly political names and words. Yesterday the Associated Press reported on our struggle […]

Is Gableman Above the (Open Records) Law?

*UPDATE BELOW*Way back in September, One Wisconsin Now made an open records request of Burnett County Judge Michael Gableman. In it we asked for copies of emails from his state email account that fit a very specific set of keywords and phrases. Most of them were political which included both names of individuals and organizations […]

John Roberts Sets Murderer Free!

Don’€™t mind me, I’€™m just practicing my hand at writing a Gableman/WMC style attack ad. You see, the United States Supreme Court threw out the murder conviction of a man yesterday because they found that the prosecution improperly kept African Americans off of the jury during the African American defendant’€™s trial. I can already see […]

More Questionable Use of State Time by Gableman?

We already know that when Michael Gableman was working in Appleton as an Administrative Law Judge, that he traveled to a Republican fundraiser some 250 miles away without taking off from his state job. While he was being paid by the hardworking people of Wisconsin, he was busy traveling the state to help raise cash […]

A Test for Torinus

 *UPDATE* I learned after posting this item that John Torinus decided not to serve on the WJCIC after all.  I am only aware of one news source that reported this change in his status and missed the development. The Wisconsin Judicial Campaign Integrity Committee made a few late additions to their ranks, both of which […]

Helping ‘Hands’: More Inspiration for Gableman?

As Cory pointed out, Mike Gableman’s unconscionably slimy ad about Louis Butler is a knock off of the race-bating Willie Horton ad that ran during the Bush-Dukakis race of 1988. Any thoughts on the next old inflamatory ad they’ll borrow from? Maybe this one?

The Joke is Still on You Jim

Last year I went to the Online News Association conference and blogged about the experience. The highlight for me was when Jim Pugh joined a panel discussion on polling. Jim is the resident mouthpiece for Wisconsin’€™s corporate lobby, Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (WMC). As I reported last year, Pugh was nearly laughed out of the […]

Now We Know

When Michael Gableman refused to sign a clean campaign pledge that simply sought to reinforce the judicial code, I wondered what he had in mind in this race for our high court. Now we know, he is intent on dragging it into the lowest gutter. Michael Gableman did not use his very first ad to […]

Media Debunks Gableman’s Resume

Mike Gableman has been touting his crime prosecuting prowess. While on the loathsome Vicki McKenna’s show in December (fyi — she called OWN “soulless”), Gableman said, ‘€œI did prosecute everything from child sexual assault cases, arson cases, white collar crime, and domestic abuse.’€ But two media outlets have analyzed Gableman’s claims, which are currently being […]

The Gableman Mirage on Crime and Punishment

In early debates and speeches, Michael Gableman has continually suggested that he has gone toe to toe with arsonists and other criminals. It has been very clear that Gableman and his corporate supporters are trying to make him into a crime fighting super hero. Even though the high court does not exist to lock up […]

Does WMC Really Care about Crime?

Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce has been running radio ads supporting their choice for State Supreme Court, Michael Gableman. This week they launched their first television ad backing Gableman. Using the same formula that has been successful for them in the past, the WMC ad focuses on crime and paints Gableman as some sort of crime […]

Gableman AWOL on Commissions

New documents obtained by One Wisconsin Now raise further questions about the accuracy of Mike Gableman’s resume and his own statements at a February 29 Wispolitics.com forum that he was selected to be Burnett County judge by Governor Scott McCallum “based on my service on statewide commissions.” Documents obtained by One Wisconsin Now show as […]

Dislike of Doyle blinds Bucher in judicial race

As they say in the military, there’s always that 2 per cent that doesn’t get the word. Case in point: A number of conservative Republicans find themselves supporting — horrors! — one of the hated liberal trial lawyers for a District II Appeals Court judgeship in southeastern Wisconsin, while the GOP establishment lines up on […]

Newsweek Says OWN Research Solid

In the midst of criticizing the false claims of the Mike Gableman campaign, Newsweek’s recent article also focused on an ad from the Greater Wisconsin Committee about Gableman’s suspicious appointment. To quote: “We’ll concede that the circumstantial evidence raises questions, and we haven’t heard a convincing alternative theory for Gableman’s appointment…” Their conclusion is that […]

Newsweek Chides Gableman Distortions

The distortions of Mike Gableman’s campaign have caught the attention of Newsweek and not in a good way for Burnett County’s oft-overturned jurist. The article focuses on part, the patently untrue allegation made by Gableman about the case of Richard Brown. Gableman has repeatedly claimed Brown, a registered sex offender, was let out on the […]

Majority of Wisconsin Judges appointed

Judges never forget their ambulance chasing days. They learn they have to be scoundrels to compete. It is part of a lawyers survival. Most lawyers are pretty boys or rich kids. Lets face it the average person thinks of making money to help the family etc. We all dream of college, but finances do not […]

Strict scrutiny for Indiana, and democracy for us

Wisconsin Democrats stonewalled Republican attempts to bring AJR17 (photo ID amendment) to a vote yesterday, despite the dramatic fanfare of a GOP press conference that went down in flames.  But a voter ID debate of greater import is raging right now in the uppermost echelons of our nation’s government, as the Supreme Court deliberates the […]

Is Gableman Admitting Improper Conduct?

Questions raised by One Wisconsin Now that as an Administrative Law Judge Mike Gableman failed to take leave while traveling over 500 miles back and forth across the state for a fundraiser for former Governor Scott McCallum appear to have been confirmed Wednesday afternoon by a Gableman campaign press release. His campaign seems to be […]

Women’s Health and Safety Act

On Wednesday, February 27th, the Senate Health Committee heard testimony on SB 398, the Women’s Health and Safety Act. The bill seeks to repeal Wisconsin statute 940.04 (Wisconsin’s Criminal Abortion Ban), which, if Roe v. Wade is overturned, would outlaw nearly all forms of abortion in Wisconsin. Moreover, the law includes a penalty of up […]

Some Connections Mean More Than Others

One Wisconsin Now’€™s investigation into Michael Gableman’€™s record has prompted many troubling questions. Unfortunately we are only getting political spin from the Gableman campaign. OWN’€™s investigation into Gableman’€™s appointment revealed that although he was not a part of Governor McCallum’€™s appointment process, Gableman was allowed to leap frog over 6 local applicants to get the […]

Gableman’s Shifting Answers Raise More Questions

Responding to mounting press questions about how he merited selection as Burnett County circuit judge, Mike Gableman shifted to a totally new argument at a Friday public appearance. Trying to explain to reporters how he was able to jump over two finalists for the Burnett County slot, Gableman said, “The governor indicated because of his […]

Better Choice: Keep It Truthful

Burnett County Judge Mike Gableman has received unwanted publicity over his supicious appointment by then Gov. Scott McCallum. Gableman, a McCallum donor and fundraiser, miraculously leapt over two announced finalists picked by McCallum’s own screening committee and was given the job — located 300 miles from where he was living at the time. Gableman has a couple different answers […]

Gableman’s Shifting Answers Raise More Questions

MILWAUKEE — Mike Gableman’s newest explanation about how he leapt over two announced finalists to become a Burnett County judge is under scrutiny after documents obtained by One Wisconsin Now would appear to both contradict his latest claim and raise additional questions about whether Gableman is exaggerating his qualifications. At a Friday forum Gableman said […]

Gableman’s Suspicious Appointment

“I am not a crook.” – Richard Nixon, 1/17/73 “The British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa.” – George W. Bush, 1/28/03 “The governor indicated because of his familiarity with my work as a prosecutor, because of my service on statewide commissions, that he was familiar with […]

OWN Files Complaint with Judicial Commission

One Wisconsin Now will file a formal request with the Wisconsin Judicial Commission to investigate state Supreme Court candidate Mike Gableman for violations of the Judicial Code for intentionally misrepresenting the record of his opponent. The Gableman campaign has repeatedly misrepresented the record of his opponent in violation of the Judicial Code. OWN hopes the […]

Picket to tell WMC: Keep your hands off Supreme Court

This from our friends at Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice: Are you fed up with rich folks and corporations buying elections? Please take action! Join us Fri., Feb. 29th, from 8-10:30 AM in Downtown Milwaukee to protest the WI Manufactures & Commerce “money collection” meetings. ISSUE: Right now the WMC is in the process […]

Legal Argument on Gableman’s Distortions

Illusory Tenant gives Supreme Court hopeful Mike Gableman’s the what-for in response to the Burnett County judge’s continuing distortion of incumbent Justice Louis Butler’s record. Click here to read the post.

Gableman’s Violations Continue

Mike Gableman’s campaign has now put out at least two negative pieces citing State v. Richard A. Brown (Case # 1995CF950507) in which they made false statements about the record of incumbent Supreme Court Justice Louis Butler — false statements which are a violation of Supreme Court rules. Quoting the DA letter: “Butler provided the […]

Can Gableman Cite One Fact that is Wrong?

Yesterday the Dane County Bar Association sponsored a debate between Supreme Court Justice Louis Butler and Burnett County Judge Michael Gableman. During the debate Gableman criticized an ad from the Greater Wisconsin Committee regarding his suspicious appointment to the Burnett County bench. In the debate, Gableman said that the claims in the ad were ‘€œuntrue.’€ […]

Calling Out the Right: Tell OWN Where Our Gableman Investigation is Wrong

The right wing is apoplectic over the first results of the continuing investigation by One Wisconsin Now into Mike Gableman’s Suspicious Appointment to the Burnett County Bench by former GOP Governor Scott McCallum. Our results show Gableman was appointed after donating to $2,500 McCallum’s campaign and hosting a fundraiser. No record of Gableman’s ever applying […]

Phone Records Prove Gableman Claim False

Last week One Wisconsin Now released documents regarding the very suspicious appointment of Michael Gableman to the Burnett County bench. In response, the Gableman campaign told the Wisconsin State Journal that Gableman was ‘€œunaware of the selection process’€ when McCallum chose him. OWN has now released documents which prove that Gableman campaign statement false. OWN […]

Gableman’s Suspicious Appointment II

McCallum admitted Thursday he manipulated the judicial appointment process established by his own executive orders in order to appoint Gableman.

Gablemans Suspicious Appointment II

Former Republican Governor Scott McCallum has refused to answer reporter’€™s direct questions about his suspicious appointment of Michael Gableman as Burnett County judge. Instead he decided to speak through a Gableman campaign press release. In the statement, McCallum admitted that he manipulated the judicial appointment process established by his own executive orders. In doing so, […]

OWN to Discuss Judicial Ethics on Air America!

Tomorrow One Wisconsin Now’€™s Executive Director Scot Ross, will be a guest on Madison’€™s Air America affiliate, the Mic 92.1. He will discuss judicial ethics and the findings of OWN’€™s recently released report on Michael Gableman’€™s suspicious appointment. Scot will be appearing on Lee Rayburn’€™s show at about 7am. If you are not located in […]

Gableman’s Suspicious Appointment

An investigation by One Wisconsin Now into the appointment of Michael Gableman to the Burnett County Circuit Court by former Republican Governor Scott McCallum raises serious questions about the current Supreme Court candidate’s judicial ethics and qualifications. After hosting a fundraiser and making a substantial contribution to Governor McCallum, Gableman leapt over six announced local […]

Newspaper Examines Gableman Claim

Wisconsin’s “paper of record” reported today on a negative claim made in a series of letters sent out by the Michael Gableman campaign that are not factual. Gableman’s campaign said that in State v. Brown, a case heard by the State Supreme Court, a sexual predator was set free. Although it has been repeated in […]