During his first debate with Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson, Jefferson County Judge Randy Koschnick used an unusual strategy. Responding to a listing of cases where the court of appeals determined that he overstepped his authority and ignored statutes, he responded saying that he was just too darn busy to worry about using “magic words” and that is why he was reversed in those cases. When he said that he was too busy, who knew it was because he was chatting it up with some of the most extreme right wingers in the state?
The Lost Albatross blog was the first to report that Jefferson County phone records show that Judge Koschnick used his courthouse desk phone to call the Wisconsin Family Council. This is the same organization that led the charge to enshrine discrimination against gay Wisconsinites into our state constitution. The group is led by the wildly extreme Julaine Appling who just last year was demanding the prosecution of gay couples that got married in San Francisco and then came back home to Wisconsin. She also is well known for her comment that society has been very tolerant to gay couples by “allowing them to live wherever they choose.” Was Koschnick providing his legal analysis on such subjects to this group? Was he seeking the support/advice of the 501(c)(3) group while planning his run for state Supreme Court? Whatever the answers, someone in the media should be asking the questions.
Apparently the Wisconsin Family Council was not the only right wing group that Koschnick was calling from his courthouse phone. The Lost Albatross also reported that he had also placed a phone call and exchanged emails with the local contact for Wisconsin Right to Life. Incidentally, that group just endorsed his candidacy. What were these communications about and was it appropriate to use an official phone and a state email to have them? Isn’t he “too busy” to conduct such communications on the taxpayer’s dime?
Not only did Judge Koschnick say that he was “too busy for magic words” but he has also been very critical about one of his fellow judge’s use of time at the Jefferson County Courthouse. Koschnick attacked one fellow judge in an email complaining that the judge started hearing cases 30 minutes too late. It seems a little disingenuous when we now know that he may have spent more time than that talking to Appling's group. Even if he really is “too busy” we now know that Judge Koschnick is definitely not “too busy” to consult with some of the most extreme elements in Wisconsin.
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4 comments:
Heaven forbid that a conservative actually calls conservative groups. Whooopty doo! It's not really worthy of a story, unless of course liberals try to make into one.
Sounds like you need a reality check. So here are three:
a.These are not just "conservative" groups. They are fringe groups. The public should know if he is that extreme.
b. He used his official courthouse phone and state email to communicate with these groups.
c. He did these things while considering a run for the state supreme court. If he was talking to these groups about his upcoming campaign, that could cross some very real ethical/legal lines.
Time to remind you lefties that the Old Beech, extremist Shirley A, wants another term so that she can retire early. Now, her pal, Diamond Jim, can re-install unelectable Loophole Louie to complete the term.
There's no pleasing the Left. WMC has no involvement in this election and you are still PO'd. Are you calling for WEAC to stop their involvement?
Vote Koschnick.
germantown_kid
Baseless right wing conspiracy theories, name calling, demeaning accomplished women, ignoring reality and facts. what are you a "promise keeper"?
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