Yesterday, members of a number of Wisconsin progressive groups gathered [1] in front of the Wisconsin capitol to demand that state Supreme Court Justice David Prosser step down until an investigation into his alleged choking of another justice is complete.
Prosser – who once called the state’s female Supreme Court Justice a “total bitch” and then bragged [2]about it – is accused of placing another female colleague in a chokehold during an argument about the state’s controversial budget bill. The justices who witnessed the incident have provided differing accounts of what happened, while Prosser’s allies [3]and the right-wing media [4]have teamed up to blame the alleged victim.
Speakers at the rally laid out the reasons [1] for Prosser to step down until the investigation is completed:
Anthony Prince, a labor lawyer likewise representing the lawyers' group, told the crowd that asking Prosser to step aside is "not a radical proposal," adding that most employers would place an employee accused of similar behavior on administrative leave while the accusations were investigated.
"An employer has a legal obligation to provide a workplace free of hazard," Prince said. "We are the employer of Justice David Prosser."
Subeck agreed [5]: "Every woman is entitled to a safe workplace, free of violence." She told the crowd that one out of every 250 women will be a victim of workplace violence, and also cited a U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics study [6](PDF) finding that, in 2009, workplace violence accounted for 24 percent of all nonfatal violence against employed people age 16 or older.
There is a reason the rest of the country has its eye on Wisconsin, said Scot Ross, executive director of liberal advocacy group One Wisconsin Now [7]. Ross said Prosser has brought "dishonor" to the state's highest court because of his violent behavior.
"This is classic workplace bullying, and it's got to stop," Ross said.
Prosser survived a close bid for reelectionearlier this year, despite his alliance [8]with Gov. Scott Walker and his unpopular anti-worker policies.