Justice At Stake reported a very troubling situation in Wisconsin. Judges, no matter what their position….from limited jurisdiction to the Supreme Court, are occasionally called upon to make a decision that is politically unpopular with some people. But if courts are to be fair and impartial, if judges are to contribute to maintaining our democracy, fear can’t drive decisions, and there is no place for retribution in reaction to honestly drafted orders. 

“Dane County Judge Juan B. Colas has gotten outraged letters and calls after ruling against parts of Act 10, Wisconsin’s law that restricted collective bargaining for many public employees.

Judge Colas was accused of being a “cheap political hack for the Marxist Democratic Party” in one letter, and a “damned liberal activist kangaroo jurist” in another. Some angry individuals cited his race. The comments followed Governor Scott Walker’s petition assailing Colas for his ruling.

Chief judge of the Fifth Judicial Administrative District, Bill Foust, criticized as inappropriate the harsh responses to Colas’ ruling as well as Gov. Walker’s assault on the judge. For more, see Gavel Grab.”

For most judges we read stories like this and think something along the lines of “could have happened to me.”

Perhaps we need to do something more, like sending a note to Judge Colas saying our profession is with you.