WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT IN “TURMOIL”:   So says Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice N. Patrick Crooks, in a letter to U.S. District Judge James Peterson, who is overseeing former Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson’s divisive and frivolous lawsuit against her fellow Justices. Crooks’ unusual letter to the presiding judge comes as a response to fellow Justice Ann Walsh Bradley’s recent affidavit filed in the case, in which Bradley (a fellow liberal) supports Abrahamson’s lawsuit and asserts the court is in “upheaval” because of uncertainty over who is Chief Justice of the court.

On April 29, 4 out of 7 Wisconsin Supreme Court Justices voted to oust Abrahamson as Chief Justice and replace her with Justice Patience Roggensack.  The Justices’ power to elect their own Chief Justice is a new power, conferred by the voters of Wisconsin by a 2014 referendum.

It’s unclear what relief Crooks’ was seeking.  He wrote to Judge Peterson,“I know that you are well aware of your authority to act based on your equitable powers. I respectfully request that you exercise such powers to set forth such a transitional plan, in order to address the chaotic situation that exists.”  Just what “equitable” relief Crooks thinks Peterson should exercise is unclear, though presumably it would not include a preliminary injunction against enforcement of the referendum, as Abrahamson has requested.  Judge Peterson has already denied Abrahamson’s request for a temporary restraining order against the new law.

If Judge Peterson is smart, he will grant the State’s motion to dismiss Abrahamson’s lawsuit with prejudice.

Stay tuned.