Scott Walker Says He'll Fill Judge Vacancies upon Judges' Promise Not to Seek Election

Wisconsin Constitution - "For each circuit there shall be chosen by the
qualified electors thereof one or more circuit judges as prescribed by law

Walker singles out Dane County voters again for not voting as he instructs. Naked display of ignorance and a tantrum from a governor not fit for office

Scott Walker still does not get it.

Granted, Walker is distracted jetting around the country again posing as a 2016 presidential candidate, while avoiding public mention of his promise of 250,000 jobs by the end of his first term.

Yet, Walker expounded yesterday on his childish comments that because two of his three appointments to the Dane County bench were rejected by voters, this means he may not fill judicial vacancies in this one county.

Dane County voters are not doing as Scott Walker instructs them to do.

So, to edify our governor, let's point to the Wisconsin Constitution, Article VII. Judiciary (Section 7. [Circuit court: election.]:

For each circuit there shall be chosen by the qualified electors thereof one or more circuit judges as prescribed by law. Circuit judges shall be elected for 6-year terms and shall reside in the circuit from which elected.

It is the right of voters to decide to elect judicial appointees; this is what happens in a democracy.

For the further education of Gov. Walker on the matter of judicial vacancies in Wisconsin:

SECTION 9. [Judicial elections, vacancies.] When a vacancy occurs in the office of justice of the supreme court or judge of any court of record, the vacancy shall be filled by appointment by the governor, which shall continue until a successor is elected and qualified.

Now, Walker said he may, as reported by Mary Spicuzza today, "name retired judges or lawyers to fill vacancies in heavily Democratic Dane County, (only) with the understanding that his appointees would not seek election to the position."

Spicuzza quotes Walker, saying he knows Dane County jurists so well only jurists not in their right mind will apply for vacant judgeships: "The reason I said that wasn't out of spite. It's just simple. Nobody in their right mind is going to accept an appointment in Dane County. It's the only county that's unique in that situation. Because why would they leave their position — no matter where they're at, be it public or private service — to take on that, only to turn around and seemingly be automatic that they weren't going to win the next election."

Dane County Judge Frank Remington was appointed by Scott Walker in 2011 and ran unopposed last year. But Walker does not mention Judge Remington.

In Walker's math two of three of his appointments' losing means "automatic." And I can assure readers Judge Remington is quite sane, and is in his "right mind."

In any event, to repeat it is the right of voters to decide to elect judicial appointees or not; this is what happens in Wisconsin democracy. And it is a constitutional thing.

As for Dane County jurists, this is news to Scott Walker, but there are plenty of public-minded, rule-of-law jurists who will apply for judgeships when vacancies occur out of a sense of public service that eludes Scott Walker's consciousness.

Many jurists serve and honor the bench because of their dedication to the rule of law, not dedication to winning the next election.

Scott Walker will never understand that.

Scott Walker's disdain for democracy on display

Scott Walker says he may not fill Dane County vacancies for judges because his appoitments lose elections.

Walker's Logic

Walker said his judicial appointments in Dane County, after being vetted by voters, were defeated in the electoral arena, so it follows that Walker should not make any appointments, no matter the negative consequences to the judicial branch and the public.

After the second of Walker's preferred judicial candidates lost an election for "political" reasons—two Walker appointments for Dane County judge were defeated the last two years—Walker said in the future it "probably doesn't make a lot of sense to go through that appointment process," and he should leave judicial vacancies unfilled.

Yes, Scott Walker, voters do make political decisions in elections. Seriously, you don't know that? It's called democracy.

One wonders if it ever occurs to Scott Walker that voters are served by the democratic process in a representative democracy?

Write Mary Spicuzza and Ed Treleven:

Walker told reporters it was "unfortunate" that Dane County Circuit Judge Rebecca St. John lost Tuesday's election. She was defeated by attorney Rhonda Lanford, who used the Walker connection (and St. John's own words) to attack St. John during the campaign.


"The mayor, the (district attorney) and others said that St. John was a great candidate," Walker said. "Unfortunately I think that politics has trumped that."

Why is this "unfortunate"?

Since when is the democratic process an unfortunate event?

Walker has no conception, apparently, that voters elect representatives. This is not hyperbole.

It's clear Walker hates the idea that many Wisconsin citizens reject him and often see anyone associated with him in a negative light.

But it does not even occur to Walker that voters expressing their will in a democracy is fundamental to representative government.

That's why Walker and the Republicans feel no sense of shame in their voter obstruction efforts. They simply do not believe in democracy.

Walker's response to his appointed judge losing is that of a petulant, narcissistic child in the governor's mansion with no regard for the voters, the judiciary and the democratic process.

Write Spicuzza and Treleven:

Dane County Circuit Judge William Foust, who is the chief judge for the fifth judicial administrative district, said a decision not to fill judicial vacancies may be a disservice to those whose cases are assigned to vacant branches. Cases could languish because other judges are too busy to take up the load.

"The other 16 judges are not sitting around twiddling their thumbs," Foust said 

Just another display of Walker's hatred of democracy.

Here's some more:

• Walker and the Republicans secretly gerrymander the assembly, senate and congressional districts
•  Walker wants to be able to declare an emergency if citizens express disapproval with him at our capitol
•  Walker packed the Wisconsin Judicial Commission with the GOP's John Gard-approved GOP donors
•  Walker attacks voters with the voter obstruction (voter ID) law held unconstitutional on its face