Supreme Court forum takes place despite Gableman’s absence

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The first scheduled Supreme Court debate between candidates Justice Louis B. Butler Jr. and Judge Michael J. Gableman ended up a one-justice show on Jan. 23.

Gableman, who is a circuit court judge in Burnett County, was forced to cancel because of inclement weather. Incumbent Butler appeared and fielded about a dozen questions at the function, which was sponsored by Professional Dimensions, a 400-member women’s association in southeastern Wisconsin.

About 50 members of the organization attended the event, which was organized by District I Court of Appeals Judge Joan F. Kessler and emceed by attorney Colleen M. Henry.

“Unfortunately, you can never predict the weather in January in Wisconsin and the pilot determined that it was not worth the risk to fly,” said Mark Graul, a spokesman for Gableman.

While disappointed, Graul said he did not think Gableman’s absence at the initial debate between the candidates would be damaging to the rest of the campaign or in establishing a presence in southeastern Wisconsin.

“I don’t know how speaking in front of 50 or 60 people will make a big deal name identification,” said Graul, who indicated that Gableman had been campaigning in Milwaukee earlier in the week.

Sachin Chheda, a campaign advisor for Butler said he hoped Gableman would make the necessary accommodations to attend future forums.

After a brief introduction, Butler responded to several questions relating to his experience, including whether a Supreme Court justice can have a predilection for ruling a certain way in cases.

“I think it’s inappropriate for any justice to signal in advance how he or she would decide a case,” said Butler. “It says, ‘I have an agenda,’ so I’ve never come out and said, ‘I’m pro law enforcement, or pro business.’”

Butler did say that he was in favor of “meaningful campaign finance reform” and that he has signed the campaign integrity pledge crafted by the Wisconsin Judicial Campaign Integrity Committee.