Monday, June 27, 2011

Prosser's Admission Of Previous Outbursts Colors New Denial

Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice David Prosser is denying the allegation made by colleague Justice Ann Walsh Bradley that he put his hands around her neck during an argument in her office.

The story is dominating Wisconsin political news and is making national headlines.

And while the competing allegations are sorted out, it's fair to say that having made this admission a few months ago to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel doesn't help his side of the current story:

As the deeply divided state Supreme Court wrestled over whether to force one member off criminal cases last year, Justice David Prosser exploded at Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson behind closed doors, calling her a "bitch" and threatening to "destroy" her...
Prosser acknowledged the incident recently and said he thought it was becoming public now in an attempt to hurt him politically. Prosser faces Assistant Attorney General JoAnne Kloppenburg in the April 5 election.
He said the outburst came after Abrahamson took steps to undermine him politically and to embarrass him and other court conservatives.
"In the context of this, I said, 'You are a total bitch,' " Prosser said
"I probably overreacted, but I think it was entirely warranted. . . . They (Abrahamson and Justice Ann Walsh Bradley) are masters at deliberately goading people into perhaps incautious statements. This is bullying and abuse of very, very long standing."

10 comments:

Boxer said...

Prosser's side of the story:

"They goaded me into it."

"She ran her neck into my outstretched hands."

" . . it's probably warranted."

"You're a total bitch. I will destroy you."

"It's a witch hunt."

"It's just bad timing."

"They're expert at goading people into incautious statements."

It's not my fault.

She asked for it.

A.K. said...

You forgot "She liked it"

Anonymous said...

When will Bradley resign? I cannot wait for all you lefties to be eating crow!!

Boxer said...

Yes, I did miss that one, A.K.
And the one where he'd claim he was just giving her a neck massage, ala Geo Bush creeping up on Angela Merkel from behind.

Betsey said...

To Anonymous 4:25 pm:

Why should Bradley resign? She's not the one who escalated the argument into the physical. Unless you expect everyone to believe his ludicrous explanation that "she ran her neck into his outstretched hands".
BTW: Lefties, or anyone else for that matter, would be said to 'eat crow' when they are wrong. The only one having to 'eat crow' in this situation is you.
If the physical contact would have occurred between construction co-workers, postal workers or police, you can bet Prosser would have been marched out of the building in handcuffs.
HE is the one who can't keep himself under control. HE should resign for the shame and injudiciousness of his conduct, and for the Supreme Court of Wisconsin becoming the laughingstock of the nation.

enoughalready said...

Is it really correct to say that Prosser denied Justice Bradley's allegations? The only Prosser statement I have seen was made in response to what he called anonymous allegations. In other words, he responded before Justice Bradley herself spoke to the Journal Sentinel.

My guess is that Prosser was betting Justice Bradley would keep the incident private, as she apparently has done with prior instances of him displaying his anger. By speaking out and denying the anonynmous allegations, Prosser may even have hoped to intimidate Justice Bradley into keeping public silence.

Anonymous said...

Betsey,

I guess you were there? You seem to know what happened. Betsey, if this really happened, why did the great legal mind Bradley not report this story earlier, and why have numerous justices said that Bradley's story of events are pure fiction? Betsey, please put down the bong.

I will not be eating any crow, but you sure will. Bradley and the chief justice just cannot seem to get along with others. If you really think that Justice Prosser put Bradley in a chokehold you really are a moron, have you seen Prosser?

Anonymous said...

Hey, shouldn't we all take some pity on the poor guy? After all, it's the female justices' "bullying" and "provocation" that forces him into these verbal and physical assaults. He simply can't help himself.

GoyitoMKE

gnarlytrombone said...

"why have numerous justices said that Bradley's story of events are pure fiction"

Who are these "numerous justices" and who did they tell this to?

Betsey said...

Anonymous: Prosser didn't deny he had his hands on her neck and as the other witnesses--oops, justices--didn't deny it either, it seems as if it probably is true.
I get my information not by being there, but by reading several accounts of the incident--carefully.

I don't believe any of the justices have called Bradley's account 'pure fiction." They have to be careful as to what they claim because they may be called upon to testify or be deposed in the near future, and as justices of the Supreme Court of Wis, must not perjure themselves. If you have read such an account (justices calling "Bradley's account 'pure fiction'") then please share it here. Belling, Sykes and Limbaugh don't count--they're not real journalists who interview or attempt to interview the parties.

I'm not sure what I think of Bradley's use of the term "chokehold" as she hasn't defined what she means by that term, or has explained what actually did happen to her. However many witnesses were in the room, it's her neck and if she felt she was being choked, hers is the only account that counts.

As to Abrahamson and Bradley not being able to get along with people, first of all, the SC is not a social event, it's the highest court in Wisconsin. Have you actually read any of the history of the relationship between Prosser, Bradley and the Chief Justice? I'm sure there were many disagreements, but it seems as if Prosser is escalating matters (remember, no one has denied his hands were on her neck) not only in the physical, but the verbal abuse as well.

PS: I'll put down my bong when you put down your meth pipe.