"If I disagree with someone, then someone says, 'Oh, there goes Justice Prosser violating collegiality.'"

Said Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice David Prosser, resisting taking the "collegiality pledge" proposed by Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson.

The justices voted on the pledge by a show of hands. Six justices raised their hands immediately, but Prosser paused and looked at the ceiling before slowly raising his hand.

Abrahamson, seeing his hesitation, joked that the justices adopted the proposal with six votes "and one additional vote."

Prosser didn't seem amused.

"Is this is in the spirit of what we just adopted?" he asked.

Gotcha! Was that gotcha in in the spirit of what we just adopted?

Abrahamson apologized and said the justices adopted the proposal in seven votes.

Afterward the justices discussed another Abrahamson proposal... to adopt a measure declaring that four justices not be considered a quorum unless their meeting was previously listed on the court calendar. ...

[Justice Annette] Ziegler said she didn't understand where the proposal was coming from...

A brief conversation ensued. As hints of tension became evident, Justice Patience Roggensack asked for and received a 10-minute break. Afterward, she offered only a brief comment.

"I know you've got something in mind. You're sitting there smiling," she told Abrahamson tersely. "I'm not fond of being blindsided and that's what's happening here."

The proposal was tabled without a vote.

The good times roll on at the Wisconsin State Capitol.

[...]

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