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First vote on Wis. justice complaint was unanimous

Posted: 5:41 AM Jun 14, 2012
Reporter: AP

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Newly released records show the Wisconsin Judicial Commission unanimously decided in January to file an ethics complaint against Supreme Court Justice David Prosser. But the panel split a month later on whether to reconsider.

In March, the commission filed the complaint alleging Prosser violated an ethics code by putting his hands on the neck of Justice Ann Walsh Bradley during an argument last June. Prosser contends his hands touched Bradley's neck in a defensive reflex.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports much of Prosser's appearance before the commission centered on a February 2010 incident when Prosser told Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson he would "destroy her" and called her a derogatory name.

Prosser told the commission he believes the code does not apply to justices when they are in closed conferences.