State Assembly Speaker Says Impeachment of Newest Supreme Court Justice "Super Unlikely"

Friday, December 22nd, 2023 -- 9:00 AM

(AP) The Republican leader of Wisconsin’s Assembly who had threatened possible impeachment of a new liberal state Supreme Court justice over her views on redistricting now says such a move is “super unlikely.”

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos originally threatened to impeach Justice Janet Protasiewicz if she did not recuse herself from the redistricting challenge, which is backed by Democrats seeking to throw out Republican-drawn electoral maps. After Protasiewicz refused to step down from the case, Vos raised the possibility of impeachment based on how she rules.

Wisconsin’s Assembly districts rank among the most gerrymandered nationally, with Republicans routinely winning far more seats than would be expected based on their average share of the vote, according to an Associated Press analysis. When asked in an interview Wednesday if he would move to impeach Protasiewicz if she orders new maps to be drawn, Vos said, “I think it’s very unlikely.”

“It's one of the tools that we have in our toolbox that we could use at any time,” Vos said of impeachment. “Is it going to be used? I think it’s super unlikely.” However, Vos refused to rule it out. “We don’t know what could happen, right?” he said.

“There could be a scandal where something occurs. I don’t know.” Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler said Vos' comments show that “his unconstitutional threat to overturn a Supreme Court election through a groundless impeachment has gone up in smoke.”

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