If Wisconsin Judges had the same requirement on them as state legislators and local officials, there would not be this ongoing debate as to whether Judges are acting impartially.

That’s the crux of this video (click here) featuring State Senator Jim Sullivan (D-Wauwatosa). “It’s a disclosure bill. It’s a right to know bill” said Sullivan. From the floor of the State Senate, Sullivan alluded that his argument wasn’t just about Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Annette Ziegler, it was about a bigger picture.

Apparently this bill gets Sullivan’s Irish up. As an attorney, Sullivan works with the Judiciary on a regular basis and he’s concerned that to not have this bill would erode public confidence in the justice system.

Sullivan said:

I think that what we have is members of this body who are simply trying to cover the tracks of a recent judicial election after the horse has left the barn. I think there is nothing that can be done about that election right now. I think we should be very clear that this isn’t about a current or past judicial candidate. This is about the publics right to know.

It will be interesting to see what happens to this bill once it hits the Assembly.