Wisconsin Supreme Court Considers Three-Year Suspension for Michael Gableman Following Ethics Violations in 2020 Election Investigation

Michael Gableman, former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice, faces a recommended three-year suspension of his law license following a court-appointed referee's report detailing 10 serious ethics violations during his investigation into the 2020 presidential election in Wisconsin. The probe, initiated under pressure from President Donald Trump and authorized by Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, failed to uncover evidence of widespread voter fraud but cost taxpayers over $2.3 million and fueled election conspiracy theories. The referee's report accuses Gableman of misconduct including lying to judges and legislative bodies, violating open records laws, disrespecting the judiciary, and misusing his position for political gain. Despite the severity of the violations and calls from legal experts for harsher penalties, Gableman agreed to the three-year suspension, which is now pending final approval by the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Law Forward's President Jeff Mandell criticized the suspension as insufficient and called for revocation of Gableman's law license, emphasizing the gravity of his offenses against democratic principles and the rule of law. The case underscores ongoing tensions in Wisconsin's political and legal systems stemming from the 2020 election controversy.