Ex-Wisconsin justice faces disciplinary complaint tied to election probe

Former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman faces a 10-count disciplinary complaint filed by the Wisconsin Office of Lawyer Regulation (OLR) on Tuesday tied to a 2020 election investigation.

What Is the Disciplinary Complaint?

The charges allege ethical violations of fraud and abuse stemming from his controversial investigation into President-elect Donald Trump’s 2020 election loss in Wisconsin, a probe that ultimately found no evidence of widespread voter fraud.

Gableman, who was hired by Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos in 2021 to lead the inquiry, became the center for criticism across the political spectrum. The investigation, which cost taxpayers over $2.3 million, drew bipartisan scorn for its lack of findings and procedural missteps.

The OLR complaint accuses Gableman of misconduct, including false statements, disruptive courtroom behavior and violations of open records laws. Among the allegations is a claim that Gableman destroyed public records sought by watchdog groups and falsely accused election officials of attempting to cover up their use of grants funded by a group tied to Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

The OLR complaint highlights derogatory remarks Gableman made about opposing counsel and his accusations that Dane County Circuit Judge Frank Remington acted as an advocate against him.

Gableman’s office is also accused in the complaint of destroying public records that had been requested by the liberal group American Oversight.

“Gableman misused taxpayer funds, promoted baseless conspiracy theories, and engaged in improper intimidation tactics; his efforts undermined the integrity of our electoral system,” Jeff Mandell, president of the liberal law firm Law Forward, said in a statement provided to The Associated Press.

What Happened During the Election Probe?

During his seven-month investigation, Gableman was frequently entangled in lawsuits over subpoenas and open records requests. He was ridiculed for scant expense records, criticized for sending confusing emails and making rudimentary errors in his filings and called out for meeting with conspiracy theorists.

Speaker Vos, who initially expressed strong confidence in Gableman, later dismissed him in August 2022, calling his performance an “embarrassment.” Vos has since suggested that Gableman should lose his law license.

What Disciplinary Action Does Gableman Face?

Tuesday’s filed complaint could result in a variety of sanctions for Gableman, including possibly losing his law license. However, the complaint does not make a specific recommendation regarding what sanction the Wisconsin Supreme Court should apply.

Gableman, a member of the Wisconsin Supreme Court from 2008 to 2018, has not publicly responded to the complaint. His tenure on the court saw several pivotal conservative rulings, but the current court, now with a liberal majority, will determine the consequences of his alleged ethical breaches.

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.