Posted on 07/16/2015 7:01:57 AM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
Madison— Dealing Gov. Scott Walker a victory just as his presidential camapaign gets underway, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled Thursday the governor's campaign and conservative groups had not violated campaign finance laws in recall elections in 2011 and 2012.
The ruling means the likely end of the investigation, which has been stalled for 18 months after a lower court judge determined no laws were violated even if Walker's campaign and the groups had worked together as prosecutors believe.
It could also prompt the escalation of other litigation over the probe.
The ruling dealt with three pieces of litigation, and the justices split 4-2 on the campaign finance laws that were at the center of the probe.
Writing for the majority, Justice Michael Gableman found a key section of Wisconsin's campaign finance law is "unconstitutionally overbroad and vague" and that the activities prosecutors had investigated were not illegal.
"To be clear, this conclusion ends the John Doe investigation because the special prosecutor's legal theory is unsupported in either reason or law," Gableman wrote. "Consequently, the investigation is closed. Consistent with our decision and the order entered by Reserve Judge (Gregory) Peterson, we order that the special prosecutor and the district attorneys involved in this investigation must cease all activities related to the investigation, return all property seized in the investigation from any individual or organization, and permanently destroy all copies of information and other materials obtained through the investigation. All unnamed movants are relieved of any duty to cooperate further with the investigation."
In dissent, Justice Shirley Abrahamson wrote that the ruling had loosened campaign finance rules and that "the majority opinion's theme is 'Anything Goes.'"
(Excerpt) Read more at jsonline.com ...
John Joe probe ended by Wisconsin Supreme Court — Shirley Abrahamson dissents.
FReep Mail me if you want on, or off, this Wisconsin interest ping list.
On to the more leftist federal courts.
How bout that. The Orwellian Stasi of John Chisholm is stopped at the State court level.
And who wanted it to keep going? The Hard Line Leftist Bolshevik Shirley Abrahamson. The woman suing the state to be re-seated as Chief Justice.
Chisholm should be prosecuted by the State AG for abuse of power, and all the people terrorized by him and his gang should have a right to sue.
Good, although there really should be some punishment for those who conducted this witch hunt, and some reparations to those injured by it. Repealing the John Doe law may be the closest alternative.
I wouldn’t call this a “victory.” I’d call it the end of an obscene tragedy.
In legal terms, that is known as a slap down.
Yes she doesnt want the courts justices voting to determine who is the chief justice. She wants it to remain whoever the oldest one is. That’s ageist.
If she was the youngest she’d argue for that.
It’s nothing but a hustle and scam by a vicious, self serving 1930s Red Diaper baby from New York.
She actually agreed with the John Doe terrorism campaign? Crap. If it happened to her and her Rat buddies, she’d be screaming bloody murder.
Nothing but a leftover Stalinist.
She is a staunch, hardcore marxist. Remember she’s a Madistan commie. She has no problem with lying about anything if it furthers her agenda.
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