(The Center Square) – Former Wisconsin Supreme Court justice Michael Gableman has agreed to give up his law license to end the ethics investigation against him.
Gabeleman signed an agreement that “stipulates that he cannot successfully defend against the allegations of misconduct contained in the complaint, and agrees that the allegations of the complaint provide an adequate factual basis in the record for a determination of an SCR violation as alleged in each of the 10 counts.”
He is likely to lose his license for three years.
The case dates back to Gableman’s investigation into the 2020 presidential election.
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos appointed Gableman, who served a single term on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, to head the probe.
But that investigation ultimately didn’t find any wrongdoing or illegality in connection to the vote despite a $2.3 million price tag.
Vos would later call the investigation a mistake.
Specifically, Gableman was facing complaints for his refusal to sit for a deposition in the case and for his behavior in court.
He shouted at a Dane County judge in the judge’s courtroom.
Gableman faced the possibility of criminal charges in the deposition case. That judge warned Gabelman that he had one more chance to cooperate, or there would be consequences.
The agreement also makes it clear that Gableman’s acceptance of punishment is not part of a plea bargain, but of his “voluntary decision not to further contest this matter.”
Ultimately. it will be the Wisconsin Supreme Court that decides Gabelman’s fate. That court includes three justices – Ann Walsh Bradley, Rebecca Bradley and Annette Ziegler – who Gableman served with.
