MADISON, WI (WTAQ) – State Supreme Court Justice Pat Roggensack denies creating turmoil, by using her authority in her newly-elected role as chief justice.
Roggensack filed a response in advance of a federal court hearing Friday on Justice Shirley Abrahamson’s lawsuit to try to remain the chief at least until her elected term ends in 2019.
Abrahamson wants to delay the start of a constitutional amendment that voters approved last month, giving the justices the power to elect their own chief.
The court’s four-member conservative majority elected Roggensack the same day the state referendum results were certified. The justices removed Abrahamson, who held the chief’s post since 1996 based on seniority.
This week, Justice Ann Walsh Bradley alleged that the state’s court system is in a “state of upheaval” because of uncertainty over the chief justice — who runs the state’s court system.
Justice Pat Crooks suggested that the federal court set up a more orderly transition process toward a new chief.
In Roggensack’s filing, said she her actions were meant to “assure efficient court operations.” She mentioned meetings with employees which sought to generate ideas to improve Supreme Court operations — and its reputation for public in-fighting.
Roggensack said she also had an e-mail sent to judges and court personnel statewide — and no one wrote back to say they were confused or “whether their employment would continue.”
(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)
