Ziegler ordered to reveal investments

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State Supreme Court Justice Annette Ziegler has been ordered to say where she invests her money.

The Government Accountability Board Wednesday rejected Ziegler’s request for an exemption from state disclosure rules, so she could keep her blind trusts.

Those trusts prevent her from knowing exactly what her investments are, and that way, she can prevent conflicts of interest if those firms have cases before the Supreme Court.

The board said Justice Pat Roggensack can keep the blind trust she started 12 years ago. The panel said Roggensack sought out the state’s advice in developing the trust and it complies with federal rules.

Board member Gerald Nichol moved to deny Ziegler’s request, saying she’s had previous troubles understanding rules involving conflicts.

Ziegler was reprimanded by her colleagues last year for deciding cases as a circuit judge involving a bank in which her husband was a board member.

Also, board ethics director Jonathan Becker said Ziegler’s brother-in-law is a trustee in her blind accounts. He called that troubling.

Ziegler has not commented. Earlier, she said there would be “political gamesmanship” if her request was not granted.

Tags: wisconsin news, ziegler, investments, disclosure