Liberals argued in a legal filing this week that Republicans were trying to nullify the election of a Democratic-backed Wisconsin Supreme Court justice by asking her to recuse herself from hearing redistricting lawsuits that could result in drawing new legislative electoral maps.

Attorneys in two separate redistricting cases filed arguments Tuesday objecting to the Republican-controlled Legislature’s request that Justice Janet Protasiewicz recuse herself. They argued that there was no legal or ethical obligation for Protasiewicz to step aside, despite her comments during the campaign that she thinks the current maps are “rigged” or because she accepted nearly $10 million from the Wisconsin Democratic Party.

One motion objecting to Protasiewicz’s recusal argued that such a move would be unsupported by fact or law and “it would be contrary to her duties as a justice on the Supreme Court.”

  • Maple Engineer@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    There is only one reason to object to the drawing of fair electoral districts and that is that you know you can’t win with fair electoral districts. Republicans hate free and fair elections because they can’t win free and fair elections.

    • The Snark Urge@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      They admit as much to each other. The amount of election interference they have been doing is neither new or accidental. The courts gave us Bush, not the voters. The GOP is not so much a party as it is a slow coup that has only recently overplayed its hand. They remain emboldened.

  • Rusticus@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    lol republicans asking a justice to recuse themselves.

    Citizens v United assholes. I can think of no better example of justice bias and fucking Clarence was the deciding vote. Fuck y’all.

  • Md1501@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    So republicans actively fighting against the will of the people…sounds like a normal day

  • SpaceBar@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    They’re threatening to impeach her and the Republicans have the 2/3rds majority in the Senate to remove her from office. That’s so messed up. That’s so undemocratic.

    • blanketswithsmallpox@kbin.social
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      1 year ago

      Sauce:

      Before she even took her seat, at least one Republican floated the idea of impeaching and removing Protasiewicz. The GOP has the needed simple majority in the state Assembly and a supermajority in the state Senate to do so, but is only allowed to impeach government officials for “corrupt conduct in office, or for crimes and misdemeanors,” according to the Wisconsin Constitution.

      But Gov. Tony Evers, a Democrat, could simply reappoint her, or another person, to the position, allowing the left to maintain their majority.

      However, the state Constitution says this on the matter: “No judicial officer shall exercise his office, after he shall have been impeached, until his acquittal.”

      https://pbswisconsin.org/news-item/what-are-the-prospects-of-wisconsin-republicans-impeaching-protasiewicz/

  • AutoTL;DR@lemmings.worldB
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    This is the best summary I could come up with:


    MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Liberals argued in a legal filing this week that Republicans were trying to nullify the election of a Democratic-backed Wisconsin Supreme Court justice by asking her to recuse herself from hearing redistricting lawsuits that could result in drawing new legislative electoral maps.

    Attorneys in two separate redistricting cases filed arguments Tuesday objecting to the Republican-controlled Legislature’s request that Justice Janet Protasiewicz recuse herself.

    They argued that there was no legal or ethical obligation for Protasiewicz to step aside, despite her comments during the campaign that she thinks the current maps are “rigged” or because she accepted nearly $10 million from the Wisconsin Democratic Party.

    Protasiewicz did not make any “pledges or promises” about how she would rule, which would require recusal, said attorneys in the second redistricting lawsuit representing voters who support Democratic candidates and several members of the Citizen Mathematicians and Scientists.

    But her comments have led some Republican state lawmakers, including Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, to say that impeachment should be considered if she doesn’t recuse from the cases.

    Wisconsin’s Assembly districts rank among the most gerrymandered in the country, with Republicans routinely winning far more seats than would be expected based on their average share of the vote, according to an Associated Press analysis.


    The original article contains 623 words, the summary contains 211 words. Saved 66%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!