A former candidate for the Wisconsin Supreme Court, Tim Burns, has filed a lawsuit against Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, urging the state’s highest court to prevent Republican lawmakers from initiating impeachment proceedings against Justice Janet Protasiewicz. Burns argues that such actions would infringe on the constitutional rights of voters who supported Protasiewicz during the recent election, which resulted in the court shifting to liberal control. The impeachment proceedings are being considered due to Protasiewicz’s campaign comments about the state’s electoral maps being “rigged,” which led to concerns about her ability to be impartial in cases related to redrawing legislative boundaries.
While Vos believes that impeachment should not be taken lightly, he contemplates moving forward with the process if Protasiewicz does not recuse herself from cases she allegedly “prejudged” during her campaign. Vos insists that it is inappropriate for a judge to express biased opinions before sitting on a trial as an impartial observer. However, the Wisconsin Constitution does not outline specific avenues for impeaching officials based on recusal issues.
Burns contends that the potential impeachment represents an “Un-American, anti-democratic powerplay” by the state legislature that aims to undermine judicial independence and the ability of voters to effect political change. The lawsuit, which was filed directly with the Supreme Court, argues that more than one million Wisconsinites’ votes would be disregarded if impeachment proceedings were allowed to proceed.
It remains to be seen how the lawsuit will be received by the state’s highest court, which will be responsible for evaluating the constitutional issues at hand. The case has sparked a broader discussion about the role and responsibilities of Supreme Court justices, with some arguing that candidates should be allowed to express their views while others caution that commitments or pledges made during campaigns could compromise judges’ impartiality.
FAQs
Q: Why is former candidate Tim Burns filing a lawsuit?
A: Tim Burns is filing a lawsuit to block the potential impeachment proceedings against Justice Janet Protasiewicz, arguing that it would violate the constitutional rights of voters who supported her during the election.
Q: What are the concerns regarding Justice Protasiewicz’s campaign comments?
A: Justice Protasiewicz’s comments about the state’s electoral maps being “rigged” have raised concerns about her ability to be impartial in cases related to redrawing legislative boundaries.
Q: Why is Assembly Speaker Robin Vos considering impeachment proceedings?
A: Assembly Speaker Robin Vos believes that Justice Protasiewicz’s comments during her campaign require her to recuse herself from cases she allegedly “prejudged,” and impeachment could be pursued if she fails to do so.
Q: What is the argument presented by Tim Burns in the lawsuit?
A: Tim Burns argues that the potential impeachment represents an “Un-American, anti-democratic powerplay” and would disenfranchise over one million Wisconsin voters.
Q: How do the candidates’ campaign statements affect their impartiality?
A: The debate revolves around the tension between candidates’ right to express their views and the need for judges to remain impartial. Some argue that specific commitments made during campaigns can compromise a judge’s ability to be fair and unbiased.