| By Robert - Mar 26th, 2009 at 3:50 pm EDT |
If Randy Koschnick is one thing, he’s consistent.
Time and time again, he has grossly distorted Chief Justice Abrahamson’s record. Fortunately, we here at OWN are willing to do the due diligence and research that Koschnick has no interest in doing.
Randy Koschnick has claimed over and over again that Chief Justice Abrahamson “sides with criminals 60% of the time.” I’ve seen Koschnick at several events, and this is 60% number is a constant drum Koschnick beats over and over and over again.
Turns out Koschnick isn’t just consistent, he’s consistently wrong. One Wisconsin Now looked at over 4,000 decisions made by the Wisconsin Supreme Court during the current term of Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson. Chief Justice Abrahamson sided with the state’s position on criminal cases more than 90% of the time.
Randy Koschnick was all too content to pick and choose the cases that would fit his false characterization of Chief Justice Abrahamson—but we did not. We looked at all types of criminal cases that came before the Supreme Court. And the facts are indisputable: either Randy Koschnick is grossly distorting Chief Justice Abrahamson’s record, or he just simply does not understand how the Wisconsin Supreme Court operates. Whatever the truth is, Randy Koschnick is on the wrong side of it.
But this isn’t the only time OWN has caught Koschnick with his hand in the ‘Distortion Jar.’ Remember Koschnick’s breathless criticism of the Chief Justice taking contributions from lawyers? OWN once again did the research, and found that Koschnick took money from lawyers and then ruled on over 1,800 cases involving those lawyers. Koschnick even took money from the District Attorney in Jefferson County, guaranteeing that Koschnick would rule in cases involving a campaign contributor. Koschnick didn’t recuse from those cases either. Funny how facts can get in the way like that!
Randy Koschnick has zero credibility on judicial ethics. I’m beginning to wonder if he even knows what judicial ethics mean. Our justices must be help to the highest ethical standards, and Randy Koschnick has time and again broken the trust of the people of Wisconsin and shown that he’s all too willing to distort the facts for his own political gain.
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please research and write the facts!
you/we don't need to get like some of the rights reporting. DON'T BE LIKE THEM.
koschnick has/does not take $ from attorneys appearing BEFORE HIM, WITH PENDING CASES.
yes, he took money from attorneys WHEN HE WAS RUNNING FOR JUDGE, before he was a judge.
he makes reference to 30K our shirley is taking from cannon and other law firms who
have PENDING CASES BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT RIGHT NOW (not illegal but as most of the citizens believe, IT'S WRONG.)
as to the da you reference, it was da wambaugh and it was $50. (FIFTY DOLLARS!!!!)
of course he (da wambaugh) had cases with all the judges and if koschnick was elected (which he was in '99) he'd have cases before him!!
big difference between koschnick donations from lawyers--none more than $300 AND NO PENDING CASES--and our shirley refusing to return or RECUSE herself from these cases that are before the supreme court as we speak. SHE HAS OVER A MILLION IN HER BANK (that is being researched too.) why doesn't she show some class and dignity and return it (or recuse)?
the press has been reporting this (national story AP and other reports around the u.s.)
THAT, AMONG OTHER REASONS is why many of us are revisiting our belief/support past and present for shirley.
(the 'citizens' referenced above? read USA Today poll taken a month or so ago where
90% believe it is wrong for judges to take money from attorneys with cases BEFORE them.
so that you/we don't become like the other sides' blogs/media, please 'print just the facts, ok?
also, shirley apparently did not do enough checking/vet of jefferson county judges ullsvik and erwin who she referenced in the wpt debate last nite when she said they (these two judges) did not like/respect koschnick--kinda' grade school playground statement by her, eh?
her campaign staff (heather) should have talked with these judges' clerks and staff in da's office who state they support koschnick and that the anger/petty behavior of both ullsvik and erwin began a couple of years ago when koschnick was chosen by a judge mac davis in waukesha to position of being in charge of judges for jefferson county. the position required koschnick to restructure the branchs assigning each certain types of cases for a 2 year rotation. ullsvik and erwin took umbrage to this.
this was LONG BEFORE he choose to become a candidate for the supreme court.
what has happened with her?
doesn't she realize that since the last time she ran for judge it is much easier to 'fact check' what candidates say?
people know people (recall 6 degrees of seperation?) and it's easy to speak with principals involved and use court room sources. you know that often the troops, the workers know what's going on as is the situation in jefferson county.
the other side may not use honesty but we NEED TO.
do it.