Posted on 09/02/2011 12:40:00 PM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
Madison - State Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman is sticking by his story that Justice Ann Walsh Bradley hit him on the back of the head, but said Thursday it happened a year later than he originally claimed.
Bradley said in a strongly worded denial Thursday that she never struck Gableman. Three other justices have said they did not witness the alleged incident. The other two justices have not said whether they saw it happen.
Gableman recently told detectives that Bradley hit him on the back of the head on Sept. 18, 2008, for referring to Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson by her first name. But the Wisconsin State Journal reported Wednesday that the justices did not meet on that day.
The allegation came to light after documents were released from an investigation of a more recent incident between Bradley and Justice David Prosser. In that case, Prosser put his hands briefly on Bradley's neck after she quickly came over to him during a June 13 argument. The investigative files that have been released have highlighted the discord that has plagued the court for years.
On Thursday, Gableman issued a statement standing by his account of being struck by Bradley, but saying it occurred a year later than he had originally told investigators. In his interview with detectives, however, Gableman said he clearly remembered when it happened because it was his birthday and noted that he had joined the court just a month earlier.
Gableman joined the Supreme Court on Aug. 1, 2008.
His statement Thursday said that during his interview with detectives he was "uncertain as to whether Justice Bradley struck me on Sept. 18, 2008, or Sept. 18, 2009." The detectives did not indicate Gableman showed any uncertainty about when the incident occurred in their summary of the interview with Gableman.
"The incident happened exactly as I related it to the officers and as it was set forth in the report," Gableman's statement said. "While Justice Bradley might not be able to recall it, I certainly do."
Bradley disputed that in her written statement.
"Whether it is Justice Gableman's original version or his new version, his described event simply did not happen," she said. "I did not strike him on the head in 2008, 2009, or ever.
"Looking to the future, the public deserves a functional court. We, as justices, must demand this of each other as public servants and elected officials. While we may disagree on some issues, I am confident that we can all be unified in our commitment to restoring this court to its national reputation as one of the best state supreme courts in the country."
Gableman told officers Justice N. Patrick Crooks was reading the other justices their horoscopes - as he often does when they gather - when Gableman made a joking comment and used Abrahamson's first name. Bradley then came over to Gableman, hit him on the back of his head and told him to show respect to the chief.
He said he did not believe Bradley was joking because no one was laughing at the time.
Crooks released a statement Thursday on behalf of himself and Abrahamson that said: "No incident as described by Justice Gableman, and no similar incident, ever occurred in our presence."
Justice Annette Ziegler told detectives on July 18 that Gableman had recently told her Bradley had once hit him on the back of the head. But she indicated she had not witnessed it.
Prosser and Justice Patience Roggensack have not spoken on the matter and did not immediately respond Thursday to requests for comment.
In their interviews with investigators, all seven justices spoke about the court and what they knew of the June altercation between Prosser and Bradley. All the accounts differed in some ways, and Gableman's did the most to condemn Bradley and downplay Prosser's role. He said Bradley rushed over to Prosser and moved her fist toward and away from his face in "almost a punching motion." He said her fist came within an inch of his face every time she extended her fist.
He also claimed Bradley was a little taller than Prosser and described her looming over Prosser much as then-Sen. Lyndon B. Johnson did over a shorter senator in a famous photo. But the reports said Prosser is 6 inches taller than Bradley, who stands 5 feet, 3 inches.
“Wisconsinasacircus” ping.
This Bradley is a feminist lunatic!
I would think so. Except for Bradley, they all have funny names.
You guys need to get rid of the Bradley person. She is entirely too disruptive and rude.
Charlie Sykes this morning intimated this AM on the radio that the redaction of parts of depositions made public from Bradley and her husband likely due to psychological issues...
She is what we thought she is...nuts!
Who really cares if they have hall sex as long as conservative decisions come out of the, dare I call it that, Supreme Court.
Brilliant illustration!
It has also been intimated that there is entirely too close a relationship between Bradley and Abrahamson. If you remember, it was a comment Prosser made to Abrahmson that prompted Bradly to attack him and percipitate the “Look here! He’s choking me!” scream from her as he raised his hands to ward off her blows.
They have 10 year terms. I don’t know if there is any way to recall them, or when she is up for re-elelction. She certainly will be a target next election.
Yes I’ve heard that one bandied about by Belling too.
What a gong show!
Well that's a productive use of the High Court's time.../S
I’ve been following this little saga on Althouse. It’s better than a soap opera — and, yes, this Bradley chick is a real mess. When she called Prosser “buddy” and revealed she’d done it intentionally to diminish him, I knew we had a nutcase on our hands.
I’m struggling with the idea of a Justice of the WI Supremem Court standing in a room and READING horoscopes to the other justices. To say nothing about a Justice in such a situation (informal, to say the least) castigating a fellow justice (with her fist) who dared address the Chief Justice by her first name. Everyone in the State calls Justice Abrahamson “Shirley”. Everyone! It’s not like they were in the high chambers.
And what’s this about wasting time and thought on HOROSCOPES!
Clown circus.
I’m struggling with the idea of a Justice of the WI Supremem Court standing in a room and READING horoscopes to the other justices. To say nothing about a Justice in such a situation (informal, to say the least) castigating a fellow justice (with her fist) who dared address the Chief Justice by her first name. Everyone in the State calls Justice Abrahamson “Shirley”. Everyone! It’s not like they were in the high chambers.
And what’s this about wasting time and thought on HOROSCOPES!
Clown circus.
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