Justice Ziegler withdraws from Prosser case

Talk about it

State Supreme Court Justice Annette Ziegler says she’ll refuse to consider punishing fellow Justice David Prosser if the disciplinary case against him goes that far.

Ziegler announced her recusal Friday in a document filed with the court. She is the second justice to withdraw.

The state’s Judicial Commission accuses Prosser of violating the judicial code of ethics by allegedly putting his hands around fellow Justice Ann Walsh Bradley’s neck in June of last year. Prosser said she was the aggressor, and he was just defending himself.

The Supreme Court would have the final say on Prosser’s possible punishment.

Prosser says all of his colleagues should withdraw from the case because they either saw the incident with Bradley, or were otherwise biased against him.

If four justices pull out, there won’t be enough left to consider a punishment.

Prosser is halfway to that end after Justice Pat Roggensack recused herself a few weeks ago.

Earlier this week, it was reported that Prosser had converted his small campaign account into a legal defense fund. He said it had already cost him $40,000 dollars to defend himself in the case. He believes his final legal bill could reach $100,000 dollars.

Tags: crime and courts, news, government