On January 3, 2007 Hartford Citizens for Responsible Government filed papers in Washington County regarding their prolonged dispute over a new Wal-Mart to be built in their community.  The group is asking Judge Annette K. Ziegler to set aside a Zoning Board of Appeals ruling which has given a green light to the project.  I have to wonder how Hartford CRG would react if they knew that the judge to whom they are appealing is a big time investor in Wal-Mart.  I also have to wonder why Annette Ziegler would have accepted such a case despite the possible conflict of interests. 

On January 3, 2007 Hartford Citizens for Responsible Government filed papers in Washington County regarding their prolonged dispute over a new Wal-Mart to be built in their community.  The group is asking Judge Annette K. Ziegler to set aside a Zoning Board of Appeals ruling which has given a green light to the project.  I have to wonder how Hartford CRG would react if they knew that the judge to whom they are appealing is a big time investor in Wal-Mart.  I also have to wonder why Annette Ziegler would have accepted such a case despite the possible conflict of interests. 

According to her most recent statement of economic interests filing, Annette Ziegler owns as much as $50,000 of stock in Wal-Mart Stores Inc.  The same source shows that she also owns as much as $50,000 in Wal-Mart of Mexico.  Should she really be hearing a case in which she may have such a big personal financial interest?  Did she ever bother to disclose this information to anyone prior to accepting this case?  If not, what is her reasoning and why is this appropriate? One can't help but wonder if it does not present a conflict of interests. 

Annette Ziegler is not only a big investor in Wal-Mart and Wal-Mart of Mexico.  She also holds thousands upon thousands of dollars in stock for many other big corporations.  How would she handle a future case of gas gouging when she has big money invested in most of the Big Oil companies?  How will she handle a potential case involving the big drug companies when she has money on the line with them?  If she is presented with a predatory lending case will she first consider her investments in the financial sector and the big credit card companies?  Does all of this point to, as some fear, a judge that will protect powerful corporate interests over that of the average person?

Hartford CRG and Wal-Mart should not be the only ones to watch Ziegler's eventual ruling, so should every Wisconsinite.  It actually may provide a few answers as to how she might treat her potential conflicts in the future.    With the kinds of investments in big corporations that she has, this Wal-Mart case will likely not be the last.