In a body blow to open and transparent government and the ability of citizen watchdog groups and journalists, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled 4-3 last summer that a Waukesha community group, Friends of Frame Park, was not entitled to attorney fees after suing the city of Waukesha for public records that the city later released before being ordered to do so by a court.
Read More »Tag Archives: editorial
Editorial: A step in the right direction for open records
Wisconsin Republicans’ move to effectively render a recent state Supreme Court ruling moot is welcome news and should be embraced across party lines.
Read More »Editorial: Trust and credibility are inevitably linked
The dismissal of a complaint against one of the candidates for the Wisconsin Supreme Court seems appropriate to us, given the underlying accusations. But it should most definitely be a reminder to all those involved in the courts that there’s a great deal more to their credibility than just to be cognizant of the law.
Read More »Editorial: Mixed results from student speech survey
There’s reason to be concerned about some of the responses in the UW System’s survey of student views on free speech, but we’re not convinced the results are as revealing as some might claim.
Read More »Editorial: Look for a judge who hasn’t made up mind
A good judge is going to disappoint you sometimes.
Read More »Editorial: Get with the times
With the Wisconsin Legislature gearing up, there’s a lot to get done. In discussions at our office this week we thought of something we’d like to see legislators do, but it might take a bit more time than most legislative tasks.
Read More »Editorial: Legal rights can’t lightly be cast aside
There’s an old adage that says a person “who is his own lawyer has a fool for a client.” Generally speaking, it’s true.
Read More »Editorial: Court’s caution on Lokken justified
Unless we’re dramatically misreading the judge’s comments late last week about Larry Lokken’s bid for an early release, he doesn’t appear to be going home soon. That’s as it should be.
Read More »EDITORIAL: Legalize marijuana in Wisconsin
Gov. Tony Evers said last week he will propose legalizing marijuana for Wisconsin residents in his state budget as part of a plan to generate $166 million in revenue to help fund rural schools and programs for marginalized communities.
Read More »Editorial: Government is trying to hide from you
Gov. Scott Walker has called for elimination of many public and legal notices in his recently proposed budget.
Read More »EDITORIAL: The real lesson of ‘Making a Murderer’
Pity poor defense attorneys. Not only do they tend to work long hours for less pay than many of their colleagues. Their job also can often be worse than thankless.
Read More »Editorial: Aim for real change
A proposal in 2006 to let school employees carry concealed weapons popped up five days after a 15-year-old student shot and killed Weston High School Principal John Klang.
Read More »EDITORIAL: Write on
The best way to write an opinion is the subject of some debate, but there is no denying that a concise, no-words-minced ruling that cuts through the unnecessary legalese and posturing is an easier and more enjoyable read, and thus, one more likely to affect more people.
Read More »EDITORIAL: Break the cycle of vexatious litigation
Trust is at the heart of the court system.
Read More »EDITORIAL: Wanted: Leaders who will not settle
The state’s civil courts are the realm of the rich, those who can afford as many lawyers as they need.
Read More »Editorial: Appearance matters
Lawyers, especially those with a healthy courtroom practice, are expected to fit inside a very narrow sartorial box.
Read More »EDITORIAL: Declining law school enrollment is no joke
What do you call an 11 percent drop in law school enrollment? A good start.
Read More »Editorial: Making up for lost time
When justly convicted Wisconsin inmates are released, they walk out of prison armed with a written plan for re-entering society and the phone number of at least one state employee who will guide them through the transition.
Read More »Editorial: Restricting access to records is wrong choice
State Rep. Evan Goyke is acting on his assumption that Wisconsin residents are a simple bunch so swayed by gossip that they cannot be trusted with basic court records.
Read More »Editorial: More money, more problems
Recent proposals to limit or abolish state Supreme Court elections attempt to remedy public perception that the high court is a political hotbed.
Read More »Editorial: Protect the protectors
Do a quick Google search of “Karie Cattanach,” and it is all there.
Editorial: Judging by the correct standards
Ten defendants have completed the Rock County Veterans Treatment Court program in the three years since the court’s founding, and not one has reoffended.
Editorial: DNA numbers don’t add up
Politicians love easy sound bites and panacea numbers, and budget season is rife with such vague points of fact.
Editorial: Veterans courts built to last
This month’s Wisconsin Law Journal print edition's cover story about veterans courts has lots of information, but glaringly lacks the answer to the most important question: Are veterans courts successful?
Editorial: Don’t just sit back and complain
It would be easy to criticize Polk County Judge Jeffrey Anderson for setting a low bail amount for Scott Youngmark less than two weeks before Youngmark allegedly murdered his fiancée, Kari Roberts, on Dec. 1.
Read More »Editorial: Justice obstructed
Judge Paul Murphy is no slouch, and those who come before him in his West Allis municipal courtroom are witness to his uprightness.
Editorial: The cost of justice
Although it appears Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice David Prosser is about to win the biggest legal battle of his career, he should be worried, even embarrassed, about the cost.
Editorial: A failure to enforce spam texts
A Federal Trade Commission spokeswoman had one telling comment to explain the agency’s fight against illegal spam texts.
Editorial: Wrong road taken in Brown Deer
Brown Deer will soon find out the cost of overestimating the public’s trust in government.
Editorial: A sheriff’s demands
Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke wants a private attorney to represent him in professional cases.
Read More »