Wisconsin

Wisconsin judicial commission dismisses complaints filed by former state courts director

Published

11 months ago

January 11, 2024

Wisconsin judicial commission dismisses complaints filed by former state courts director

The Wisconsin Judicial Commission this week dismissed complaints filed by the former state courts director after he was fired by four liberal justices of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, documents released to The Associated Press on Thursday show.

Three of the four targeted justices fired back Thursday, accusing the former court director who filed the complaints of breaking the law by making them public. By law, complaints before the commission must remain confidential unless the target of the investigation makes it public.

Randy Koschnick filed the complaints against each of the justices who fired him in August. He also filed a complaint against the person who replaced him, former Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Audrey Skwierawski. Koschnick talked about the complaints publicly at the time.

FORMER WISCONSIN COURT DIRECTOR FILES COMPLAINTS OVER REPLACEMENT AFTER CHANGE IN SUPREME COURT CONTROL

The commission should have admonished Koschnick or taken other disciplinary action against him, liberal justices Rebecca Dallet, Jill Karofsky and Janet Protasiewicz wrote in a letter they provided to the AP.

The Wisconsin State Capitol building stands as Wisconsin electors gather to cast their votes for the U.S. presidential election in Madison, Wisconsin, on Dec. 14, 2020. Documents released show that the Wisconsin Judicial Commission this week dismissed complaints filed by Wisconsin’s former state courts director after he was fired by four liberal justices of the Wisconsin Supreme Court. (REUTERS/Daniel Acker)

Koschnick said Thursday that he thinks he had a First Amendment right to talk about his complaint. He said he had a “civil and moral obligation” to file the complaint.

“There is no basis for discipline,” Koschnick told the AP. “I did nothing wrong.”

Koschnick alleged in his complaint that Skwierawski cannot legally take office until July 2025 because the state constitution prohibits judges from holding nonjudicial offices until their terms end.

But the commission’s executive director, Jeremiah Van Hecke, said in a letter to each of the four justices that the commission determined there was no misconduct in hiring Skwierawski. In a letter to Skwierawski’s attorney, Van Hecke said the commission was dismissing the complaint, as she resigned her position as judge on Dec. 31 and is no longer subject to the commission’s jurisdiction.

Skwierawski’s attorney, Matthew O’Neill, said in a Thursday letter back to the judicial commission that Skwierawski was waiving confidentiality of the complaint to clear her name.

“She is gratified and vindicated by the Commission’s confirmation that her decision to serve the people of Wisconsin as interim Director of State Courts was legally, constitutionally and ethically sound,” O’Neill wrote.

Skwierawski declined to comment.

The justices, in their letter to the commission, accused Koschnick of engaging in a publicity stunt by making his complaints public. Justice Ann Walsh Bradley, who was the subject of a complaint that was dismissed, did not join her three colleagues in the letter back.

“Judge Koschnick’s antics were nothing more than a partisan attempt to undermine the court’s authority to hire his successor,” Justices Dallet, Protasiewicz and Karofsky wrote.

By not taking action against Koschnick, the commission “will allow itself to continue to be an arrow in the quiver of partisan activists, reducing the public’s confidence in the judiciary.,” the three justices wrote.

WISCONSIN’S LIBERAL SUPREME COURT IN CROSSHAIRS AS GOP LAWMAKERS GRILL JUDICIAL ETHICS COMMISSIONERS

The director of state courts is Wisconsin’s top nonjudicial court official and advises the Supreme Court on improving court processes while also overseeing court budgets and operations.

Koschnick, a former judge, was appointed to the role in 2017 by a conservative majority of the court.

The justices voted in December to make Skwierawski, who was initially named as the interim court director, the permanent director.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court flipped to liberal control in August after Protasiewicz’s victory in the April election.

The new liberal majority immediately set to work making sweeping changes, including voting to vastly reduce the powers of the conservative chief justice and last month tossing Republican-drawn legislative maps.

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Wisconsin

QB Grade: Nebraska Football’s Dylan Raiola vs. Wisconsin

Published

5 hours ago

November 26, 2024

Press Room

QB Grade: Nebraska Football’s Dylan Raiola vs. Wisconsin

Saturday was a day Nebraska fans will not forget for a long time. The Huskers secured one of their biggest victories of the last decade, and their freshman star quarterback was a huge reason why.

Dylan Raiola delivered a masterful performance as Nebraska powered past Wisconsin 44-25, securing the Cornhuskers’ first bowl berth since 2016. Playing in front of a raucous Memorial Stadium crowd, Raiola showcased his accuracy and leadership, getting the most important victory of his young career, courtesy of one of his most efficient outings.

Raiola completed 28 of 38 passes for 293 yards and a touchdown, orchestrating an offense that controlled the game with 29 first downs and over 33 minutes of possession. He displayed excellent accuracy, particularly in the intermediate passing game, finding Jacory Barney Jr. and Emmett Johnson for pivotal completions. The two players combined for 170 receiving yards.

While the stat sheet shows only one touchdown pass, Raiola’s impact went beyond the box score. His ability to spread the ball among eight different receivers kept Wisconsin’s defense off balance, while his quick decision-making prevented sacks and extended drives. His lone touchdown throw, a perfectly placed ball to Jahmal Banks late in the second quarter, helped Nebraska pull away before halftime.

Raiola’s poise in critical moments stood out. Facing third-and-long situations, he converted twice with pinpoint throws to sustain scoring drives. Additionally, his pre-snap adjustments demonstrated his growing football IQ, as he consistently identified mismatches and exploited them. Nebraska converted four of nine third downs, largely thanks to Raiola’s composure.

Overall, Raiola’s performance was instrumental in Nebraska’s milestone victory. His leadership and efficiency set the tone for an offense that dominated Wisconsin from start to finish. It was a true showcase of what the offense can be under Dana Holgorsen’s leadership. With the win, the Cornhuskers are back in postseason play, and their freshman quarterback has firmly cemented himself as the face of the program’s resurgence.

Grade: A

MORE: Dana Holgorsen Dives Into Changes He’s Made With Nebraska Football’s Offense

MORE: Nick Handley Show: Bowl Eligibility & Iowa Preview with Jay Moore

MORE: Carriker Chronicles: Nebraska Football Can Finish 2024 With an Exclamation Point

MORE: Stukenholtz: Yes, It Has Really Been That Long

MORE: How to Watch Nebraska Men’s Basketball vs. South Dakota: Preview, Breakdown, TV Channel

Stay up to date on all things Huskers by bookmarking Nebraska Cornhuskers On SI, subscribing to HuskerMax on YouTube, and visiting HuskerMax.com daily.

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Wisconsin

Wisconsin Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 results for Nov. 25, 2024

Published

13 hours ago

November 26, 2024

Press Room

Wisconsin Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 results for Nov. 25, 2024

The Wisconsin Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Nov. 25, 2024, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from Nov. 25 drawing

05-35-45-60-63, Powerball: 12, Power Play: 2

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from Nov. 25 drawing

0-9-4

8-1-4

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from Nov. 25 drawing

3-2-7-4

0-0-7-7

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning All or Nothing numbers from Nov. 25 drawing

Midday: 02-03-04-05-08-10-11-13-15-19-22

Evening: 01-02-03-04-09-11-12-14-17-18-20

Check All or Nothing payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Badger 5 numbers from Nov. 25 drawing

03-06-15-18-25

Check Badger 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning SuperCash numbers from Nov. 25 drawing

08-17-28-30-32-34, Doubler: N

Check SuperCash payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

Prizes up to $599: Can be claimed at any Wisconsin Lottery retailer.
Prizes from $600 to $199,999: Can be claimed in person at a Lottery Office. By mail, send the signed ticket and a completed claim form available on the Wisconsin Lottery claim page to: Prizes, PO Box 777 Madison, WI 53774.
Prizes of $200,000 or more: Must be claimed in person at the Madison Lottery office. Call the Lottery office prior to your visit: 608-261-4916.

Can Wisconsin lottery winners remain anonymous?

No, according to the Wisconsin Lottery. Due to the state’s open records laws, the lottery must, upon request, release the name and city of the winner. Other information about the winner is released only with the winner’s consent.

When are the Wisconsin Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10:00 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
Super Cash: 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
Pick 3 (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily.
Pick 3 (Evening): 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
Pick 4 (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily.
Pick 4 (Evening): 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
All or Nothing (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily.
All or Nothing (Evening): 9 p.m. CT daily.
Megabucks: 9:00 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.
Badger 5: 9:00 p.m. CT daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Wisconsin editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Wisconsin

Gas prices drop lower during busy holiday travel season in Wisconsin

Published

21 hours ago

November 26, 2024

Press Room

Gas prices drop lower during busy holiday travel season in Wisconsin

MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – Gas prices are the cheapest they’ve been since the pandemic, just as people prepare to travel for the holidays.

According to AAA Wisconsin, the average gas prices is $2.86 per gallon in the state, a new low since 2020.

”We’ve had so many disruptions in the last four to five years between Covid and then the Ukraine conflict that has sent prices either far down or bringing them to historic highs,” AAA Director of Public Affairs Nick Jarmusz said. “We kind of forget what normal is.”

He said the low cost at the pump is a result of peak summer travel season ending, an even supply and demand for fuel and fewer global crises.

”Right now we’re in a pretty favorable balance between lower demand and pretty plentiful supply and no real disruptions to speak of,” he said.

Gas prices drop lower during busy holiday travel season(Marcus Aarsvold)

People can save more money at the pump if they drive the speed limit.

”By sticking closer to the speed limit, avoiding aggressive driving in situations, you can actually increase your fuel efficiency by about 40% or up to 40%,” Jarmusz said. “Which can add up to pretty significant savings.”

If trends continue, he also said prices might drop even more. ”Really, I would not be surprised to see these prices continue to go down,” Jarmusz said. “I don’t think we’ve seen the lowest prices we’ll see this year yet.”

According to AAA the best times to travel before Thanksgiving on Thursday is in the morning hours on Tuesday and Wednesday. Roads will be busiest in the afternoons.

Click here to download the WMTV15 News app or our WMTV15 First Alert weather app.

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