Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Annette Ziegler says ‘Coup’ Is Destroying Constitution – Watch
The conservative chief justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court has accused the liberal justices of staging a “coup” and destroying the constitution.
Chief Justice Annette Ziegler lashed out against the actions of the new liberal 4-3 court majority, taking aim at them for terminating a longstanding court director. The liberal justices fired Randy Koschnick as soon as the court official flipped earlier this month. The court director is the top non-judicial officer in the state court system.
“You are making a mess of the judiciary, the court and the institution for years to come,” Ziegler said in an email obtained by the Associated Press. “This must stop. … I have no confidence in the recent hostile takeover and the chaotic effect it has had on the court, staff, and the overall stable functioning of the courts.”
The emails from Ziegler were sent to the other six justices and interim state court director Audrey Skwierawsk. According to Wisconsin law, the court director is supposed to “be hired by and serve at the pleasure of the supreme court, under the direction of the chief justice.”
“It has come to my attention that you have been signing my reserve judge orders without my knowledge or approval,” Ziegler said. “You never asked me for permission. You do not have my permission. Stop. These orders are in my name. You have no lawful authority to sign them. If you have signed anything else under my name, please advise immediately.”
“Again, I will not condone such lawless destruction of the constitution, the judiciary, or the court,” Ziegler wrote. “This is nothing short of an unprecedented coup. For 40 years, the role of the Chief Justice has been understood and respected. Your short term goals will cause long term, irreparable damage to the judiciary. What a historical disgrace.”
Judge Rebecca Dallet said that liberals on the court were acting within their constitutional duties.
“We are simply creating process so that a majority of the court can effectively work in the face of an intransigent and uncollegial chief who apparently insists on a public debate about issues for political purposes, rather than allow a court majority to function as it always has,” Dallet said.
Chief Justice Annette Ziegler told the new liberal majority in a scathing email that they had staged a “coup” when they voted recently to weaken her powers. https://t.co/2I15ikAsNI
— HuffPost (@HuffPost) August 29, 2023
