Prosser and Bradley: CHOKE

More Wisconsin Supreme Court drama...

The latest: An argument allegedly turned physical. Justice David Prosser CHOKED Justice Ann Walsh Bradley.

Sounds more than a little weird, doesn't it?

The story really ticks me off.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

An argument between state Supreme Court Justices David Prosser and Ann Walsh Bradley became physical earlier this month, according to sources who told the Journal Sentinel two very different stories Saturday about what occurred.

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 joint investigation by Wisconsin Public Radio and the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism first reported Saturday on the incident, stating that Prosser "grabbed" Bradley around the 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 high court's release of a decision upholding a bill to curtail the collective bargaining rights of public employees.

At least five justices, including Prosser and Bradley, had gathered in Bradley's office and were informally discussing the decision.

The conversation grew heated, the source said, and Bradley asked Prosser to leave. Bradley was bothered by disparaging remarks Prosser had made about Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson.

Bradley felt Prosser "was attacking the chief justice," the source said.

Before leaving, Prosser "put his hands around her neck in what (Bradley) described as a chokehold," the source said.

"He did not exert any pressure, but his hands were around her neck," the source said.

The source said the act "was in no way playful."

But another source told the Journal Sentinel that Bradley attacked Prosser.

"She charged him with fists raised," the source said.

Prosser "put his hands in a defensive posture," the source said. "He blocked her."

In doing so, the source said, he made contact with Bradley's neck.

Another source said the justices were arguing over the timing of the release of the opinion, which legislative leaders had insisted they needed by June 14 because of their work on the state budget. As the justices discussed the case, Abrahamson said she didn't know whether the decision would come out this month, the source said.

At that point, Prosser said he'd lost all confidence in her leadership. Bradley then came across the room "with fists up," the source said. Prosser put up his hands to push her back.

Bradley then said she had been choked, according to the source. Another justice - the source wouldn't say who - responded, "You were not choked."

Late Saturday, Prosser issued a statement that said: "Once there's a proper review of the matter and the facts surrounding it are made clear, the anonymous claim made to the media will be proven false. Until then I will refrain from further public comment."

Oh, good grief.

These accounts are so strange.

If Prosser truly choked Bradley, she should have reported the incident to the police immediately.

If Prosser assaulted Bradley, she should have pressed charges.

If this did occur as Bradley claims, it certainly would have been to her advantage to get the police involved right away. It would make her enemy, Prosser, look terrible.

But almost two weeks after the incident, we're hearing about it? Why would Bradley delay reporting being attacked? She still hasn't come forward with a comment. All we have are unnamed "sources."

That's very odd, very lame.

The justices aren't talking.

What has this "investigation" revealed?

Rumors.

If Bradley charged at Prosser with her fists raised, and Prosser needed to take defensive measures to protect himself, he should have called the police.

This is all so ridiculous.

Physical attacks between justices cannot be tolerated. There is absolutely no doubt that an individual lacking that degree of self-control is unfit to serve on the court.

Has there been a physical altercation?

We don't know.

This is idiotic.

Whatever the reality of the matter is, the justices, and the media reporting their antics, need to grow the hell up.

GROW UP!

Justices must behave.

Media shouldn't report unsourced crap.

Utterly irresponsible.

Perhaps law enforcement should be present at all times when Supreme Court justices are meeting, to maintain order.

Officers should be armed with pepper spray and stun guns. They shouldn't hesitate to use force to control the justices.
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Here's more, from WISN: Report: Prosser Grabbed Female Justice By Neck During Argument

Read the original report from the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism here.

Bradley says Prosser choked her

Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Ann Walsh Bradley issued a statement late Saturday saying that fellow Justice David Prosser choked her and disputing claims that she attacked him first.

"The facts are that I was demanding that he get out of my office and he put his hands around my neck in anger in a chokehold," she said. "Those are the facts and you can try to spin those facts and try to make it sound like I ran up to him and threw my neck into his hands, but that's only spin.

"Matters of abusive behavior in the workplace aren't resolved by competing press releases," she said.

"I'm confident the appropriate authorities will conduct a thorough investigation of this incident involving abusive behavior in the workplace."

What I don't understand is why Bradley didn't immediately get the police involved.

Where's the criminal complaint?

I'd like to read it.