(The Center Square) – A Wisconsin bill would prevent judges who are suspended for misconduct from being paid while they are on leave.
Assembly Bill 380 came in response to Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan, who has been suspended by the Wisconsin Supreme Court while facing federal charges.
Dugan is charged with obstruction of a federal proceeding and concealing an individual to prevent discovery or arrest.
Dugan is being paid her salary of $174,512, according to sponsor Rep. Shae Sortwell, R-Two Rivers.
“Taxpayers will now be funding an extended vacation for her while paying additional taxpayers dollars for reserve judges to fill in or delaying more cases,” Sortwell said to the Assembly Committee on Judiciary.
The bill would not apply to Dugan, if passed and signed by Gov. Tony Evers, because Dugan’s case came before a change could occur.
When asked what Dugan should do to earn money while suspended, Sortwell made suggestions.
“We could put her in the clerk’s office and have her file papers, for all I care,” Sortwell said. “Make her do something to earn the salary.”
Sortwell said that the Wisconsin Supreme Court has only suspended 15 judges for official misconduct, calling it a “serious and rare action.”
“Wisconsin taxpayers should be protected from the misconduct and/or commission of a crime by rogue judges,” Sortwell said.
Sortwell said that there is precedent across the country for judges being suspended without pay before a case is finalized, saying that a judge indicted for cattle theft in Texas is currently suspended without pay.
Sortwell said that he was open to amendments to clean up language in the bill or to provide a protection for back pay if a judge is cleared of wrongdoing.
But he added that he believes “the supreme court is not taking action unless it is pretty much a done deal.”
