WMC’s empty suit on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, Michael Gableman, has responded to the complaint filed against him by the State Judicial Commission. Gableman ran what is widely acknowledged as one of the sleaziest campaigns in the history of the high court.

The specific charges in this matter surround Gableman’s Willie Horton-style TV ad against his opponent former-Justice Louis Butler. It clearly implied that Butler, while serving as a public defender, enabled a sex offender to be released and that the offender then went on to commit more egregious crimes. At best the Gableman ad was a clear effort to mislead the public and at worst it was a premeditated and contemptible lie. Either way Gableman’s actions clearly violated the Code of Judicial Conduct which is the case being made by the Judicial Commission.

Part of Gableman’s breathtaking “defense” against the Judicial Commission is that the state’s statutes on judicial candidates making misleading or confusing statements is unconstitutional. Based on that he apparently believes that he has the right to mislead the public whenever he chooses! Only in Gableman’s small world would an elected official fight tooth and nail to defend his perceived “right” to lie to the public without repercussion. What is next from Gableman? A passionate argument defending his imaginary “right” to libel? Actually, as absurd as that may sound, one could very reasonably suggest that he is trying to make that very case right now.