Clement out as AG

Paul Clement (Harvard '92, Admitted Wis: 2003) is expected to lose his job as interim attorney general, given all the press related to Bush naming Michael B. Mukasey, a former federal judge from New York, as his appointee to the top attorney spot. Clement stepped in for the interim after former AG Gonzales stepped out.

JSOnline: From Cedarburg to the spotlight, Former resident to step in as interim attorney general

NYTimes: Bush Expected to Name Judge as Gonzales’s Successor

Prosecutors: Milwaukee, Discretion, needs

A Milwaukee prosecutors blog hits the net while juror tales meet the same fate. Who knows all the needs, but perhaps a right to substitute, a speedy trial request or a method to the madness of discretion to charge (Georgia Thompson) ? And what will happen to sentences in Milwaukee. Perhaps we can all comment via this Federal records form.


Wisconsin State Journal: Sex case points up 'deal' not to prosecute

Open Government

DOJ announces open government seminars while The Capital Times reports the Supreme Court's recent opinions and matters regarding the same.

Green Bay Press Gazette: Open government seminars scheduled around the state

The Capital Times: Your Right to Know: Watch high court for rulings on open government laws

Ziegler fallout hits Hoover

Judge Hoover (UW'78), Wisconsin Court of Appeals District III, has recused himself and many outlets are reporting that he supported Ziegler during the campaign. Hoover's offical state office address was listed as the source of a $100 2006 donation to the campaign. Hoover was originally selected to be the Presiding Judge. Hoover's contribution was apprently before questions regarding Ziegler's conflict of interest issues came out and the source of the current concern. The new panel includes Judges Fine, Appeals D1 (presiding judge of the panel); Wedemeyer, Jr., D1; and Dykman, D4.

Local: Wausau Daily Herald: Wausau-based judge who donated to Ziegler withdraws from ethics case
WisPolitics: Judge who gave Ziegler $100 withdraws from her discipline panel Order disbanding panel
The Capital Times: Ziegler panel member withdraws
Wisconsin Law Journal: Neighboring states take different approaches to allegations against justices

The Right of judicial subsitution

The legislature seems to be tinkering with the right of substitution again. Perhaps under the misguided idea that it is an expensive and meaningless right. Timelines are to be considered and rights removed. While some judges (Rock County Circuit Judge James E. Welker UW'69) and District Attorneys (Green Lake County District Attorney Winn Collins UW'03) seem to find the law improper, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has supported the law and written an editorial opposing any change.

JS Online: 6,000 a year switch judges
JS Online: Editorial: Preserve this right
The one free judge substitution a criminal defendant gets is a needed check on a powerful judiciary. The Legislature must not tinker with that check.

More Ziegler... Orders and donors

The Order referring the current Judicial Commission Complaint can be found here.

More interesting news is the state of Supreme Court races. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that Ziegler gave nearly $825,000 out of her own pocket during the election campaign. Thats for a job which pays less than $140,000 a year. Who knows if this will financial or otherwise will pay off.

All Politics Watch: Ziegler gave

Foley concedes it doesn't know football

Apparently the Foley suite auctioned off for charity has garnered little interest. According to a recent Wisconsin State Journal story, Foley has a new focus on charity. Although, they admit they didn't know enough about football, the game was chosen before the 0-2 Wolverines season began.

Remember, they do know a little about basketball.

Wisconsin State Journal: Football suite for charity