Wisconsin Republicans are considering impeaching a newly elected liberal Supreme Court justice in the state over comments she made as a candidate about redistricting and for receiving donations from the state Democratic Party.
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos ® announced this week the formation of an impeachment criteria panel as Republicans weigh ousting Justice Janet Protasiewicz, whose win in April established a 4-3 liberal majority on the court.
Protasiewicz has yet to hear a case, but the high court was asked in August to hear several cases on Wisconsin’s legislative maps.
Republicans point to previous comments Protasiewicz made about the state’s maps, in which she called calling them “rigged.”
Protasiewicz declined to say during the election how she would rule on the issue, and she has not determined whether she will recuse herself from the case.
With Gov. Evers responsible for choosing her replacement (including just re-appointing Protasiewicz) even if she is impeached this is likely just delaying the inevitable. Also she won by such a large margin (55-44) that a clear power grab over a popular political figure in the state that will ultimately not amount to much will just hurt R’s even more in 2024, especially under non-gerrymandered maps.