WI Supco for sale to highest bidder

There can no longer be any debate. Justice is for sale in Wisconsin. Certainly that is the case on the state’s highest court, which has rejected a call for justices to recuse themselves from cases that involve their political donors. A group of 54 retired judges submitted a petition that sought to ensure that our high court justices aren’t able to bend the rules for their fat-cat friends. It would have forced members of the Supreme Court to sit out any cases in which their donors are litigants or attorneys. Justice Shirley Abrahamson argued that forcing justices to recuse themselves from cases in which they may have a conflict of interest would help restore integrity to the court. But the petition failed by a 5-2 margin. So our most prestigious judges, supposedly of high ethics, can continue to rule on cases in which those who give them money are involved. Not only did they reject the request, they seem hurt it was even made. Justice Rebecca Bradley claims Wisconsin justices should be offended by the petition. But even if our high court justices aren’t acting improperly, being unwilling to recuse themselves certainly can give the appearance of impropriety. And for those who claim their moral compass is always pointing due north, that should be enough of a reason not to rule in cases involving their cash cows.