Supreme Court to address justice squabbles, voluntary bar and more

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Next week, the Wisconsin Supreme Court will publicly address a proposal by Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson to make the court more transparent in the wake of internal squabbling.

In a memo attached to the court’s Sept. 15 administrative conference agenda, Abrahamson suggested several options for her colleagues to consider, including making all conferences open to the public, or that closed conferences be streamed or taped and then made available to the public.

The memo also suggests that an outside expert on group dynamics be retained to work with the justices on interacting in a more constructive manner and that oral arguments be held several times each year outside of Madison to interact with the public.

In her memo, Abrahamson stressed that “change is needed” and the goal of the proposals is not to “rehash or measure past concerns or tensions.”

The court is also scheduled to address a grant request submitted by the Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee Inc. and decide whether several submitted rules petitions should be scheduled for a public hearing.

Among those the court will consider is an amended petition filed by attorneys Steve Levine and James Thiel to make the State Bar of Wisconsin a voluntary organization.

Earlier this year, the court rejected the initial petition on the grounds that it was not in the proper form and did not request a specific rule change.

Meeting Agenda (PDF)

Abrahamson memo (PDF)