MADISON, WI (WTAQ) - State Supreme Court Justice David Prosser says he’ll cooperate fully with two investigations into claims he that put a choke-hold on fellow Justice Ann Walsh Bradley.
Dane County sheriff’s deputies began one of the probes Monday at the request of State Capitol Police Chief Charles Tubbs. The state’s Judicial Commission said it’s been looking into the matter since Friday.
Spokesman Brian Nemoir said Prosser believes a, “thorough and impartial review” is the proper way to get the facts out.
Media reports have given differing accounts of the incident, which happened the day before the court’s ruling last month which upheld the state’s new union bargaining limits. Bradley has said publicly that Prosser gave her a choke-hold when she ordered him out of her office.
Other reports said Bradley moved toward Prosser with her fists up – and Prosser had just blocked her. All of the other Supreme Court justices except Pat Crooks reportedly saw the incident, but none have commented.
Some of Prosser’s critics have called on him to resign. But Governor Scott Walker told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Monday he doesn’t want to go down that path yet.
The incident is just the latest public disagreement among the current set of justices. In the long run, Walker said it’s worth looking at appointing Supreme Court justices. The constitution would have to be changed first.