It should come as no surprise that Justice Louis Butler, a former Milwaukee judge, would fare better than his Burnett County challenger, Michael Gableman, when reviewed by Milwaukee lawyers. What is surprising is the margin by which Butler was identified as “qualified,” compared with Gableman in the Milwaukee Bar Association’s Judicial Poll, released this afternoon.
Butler came out with 429 votes for “qualified” and 52 for “not qualified.” Gableman only received 119 votes for “qualified” and 198 for “not qualified.” Another 195 MBA members had no opinion about Gableman; 45 had no opinion about Butler.
The MBA, the state’s largest voluntary bar association, annually polls members about the qualifications of judicial candidates. This year, ballots went out to 2,540 members and 643 responded by the March 17 deadline.
It’s also not surprising that Butler’s campaign wasted no time firing off a press release touting the results.
Campaign spokesman Sachin Chheda issued the following statement, “These results make crystal clear which candidate has the qualifications, experience and integrity necessary to serve the people of Wisconsin on the Supreme Court.A vast majority of members of the Milwaukee Bar who expressed an opinion – 89 percent – said that Justice Butler is qualified to serve. Only 38 percent said the same about Michael Gableman.”
Gableman campaign spokesman Darrin Schmitz said given that Butler has a long history in Milwaukee's legal community, it was not surprising to see that he did better in the MBA's poll. However, he does not see that affecting the Burnett County judge's campaign. Schmitz said he believed Gableman's strong support from sheriffs and district attorneys will be a deciding factor.
"We think that will ultimately make the difference in the race," Schmitz said.
In the only other contested judicial race in Milwaukee, Court Commissioner Rebecca Dallet received 292 votes identifying her as “qualified” for Branch 40 of the Milwaukee County Circuit Court. Challenger Jeffrey Norman, an attorney and Milwaukee Police detective, received 83 votes for “qualified.” Dallet and Norman received 24 and 114 “not qualified” votes, respectively.
1 Comments on This Article
1
I am disgusted by the tenor and overt/unapologetic insertion of selfish special interests in campaigns that, by their nature, should not be pro or anti businss nor pro or anti teachers unions.
As a former "flatlander "from Illinois, I had a chance to participate in a vote for a constitutional amendment to change the voting for state judges from a basis similar to what exists now in Wisconsin. The change, approved in a referendum was a system of voting for sitting judges on a "shall they be retained" basis. The result was a maximum reduction in special interest funding/ political party patronage and judges enjoying the ability to do their jobs with some expectation of security/a career.
I am amazed having studied for and passing the Wisconsin bar exam in 1970, how progressive and "clean" politics appeared to be compared to Illinois. Almost 40 years later, I have the feeling that our population has become radically rednecked and the purveyors of hate and divisiveness are at there apogee.
When did the 4th, 5th and 6th amendments to the US Constitution become evils? When and why did court's consciences stop being shocked? When did being a public defende become a betrayal of justice?
Comment Byrichard cramer Thursday, March 27, 2008 at 11:34 AM
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