Judicial Commission should probe Pat Roggensack’s power grab

[hue]

http://host.madison.com/news/opinion/editorial/article_e452b9c5-79dd-5222-bf13-2feac507cf9e.html

Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice N. Patrick Crooks has accused Justice Patience Roggensack — who was recently installed as the court’s chief justice — of serious violations of court rules.

Crooks says that Roggensack scheduled a conference to discuss cases without the permission of all seven justices.

That’s a clear violation of court rules.

Crooks, a respected middle-of-the-road jurist, says that Roggensack also threatened to remove him and other justices from participating in three cases unless they voted on those cases via email by May 18 — though she lacks the authority to do so.

That’s another clear violation of court rules.

Emails confirming Crooks' complaints were provided to journalists by Justice Shirley Abrahamson, who was replaced as chief justice following a statewide referendum in April. She is suing to regain that post until her current term expires.