It was clear the justices on the Wisconsin Supreme Court were divided, and disagreed sharply over how to resolve litigation over the passage of controversial legislation curtailing public employee collective bargaining rights. But things in chambers apparently got even more heated than many realize. The Journal-Sentinel reports that an argument among some of the justices on the Wisconsin Supreme Court “got physical.” The story notes conflicting accounts as to what occurred between recently re-elected Justice David Prosser and Justice Ann Walsh Bradley, and suggests there may be an investigation by the Wisconsin Judicial Commission.
According to some sources, Prosser wrapped his hands around Bradley’s neck. According to others, Bradley charged Prosser, who raised his hands to defend himself and made contact with her neck. . . .
A source who spoke to several justices present during the incident told the Journal Sentinel that the confrontation occurred after 5:30 p.m. June 13, the day before the high court’s release of a decision upholding a bill to curtail the collective bargaining rights of public employees. . . .
Sources told the Center for Investigative Journalism that the matter was called to the attention of the Wisconsin Judicial Commission, which investigates allegations of misconduct involving judges. James Alexander, executive director of the commission, said that “we can neither confirm nor deny” that the incident was under investigation. “The commission hasn’t given me any authority to make any confirmation,” he told the center.
UPDATE: Ann Althouse has more.
SECOND UPDATE: The Journal-Sentinel story has been updated and includes a direct accusation by Justice Bradley against Justice Prosser. It also reports that Justice Bradley had considered contacting law enforcement to report a prior verbal outburst in which Justice Prosser called another Justice a “bitch.”