Justice Geske: "Let's not mince words: President Trump's actions are a dangerous attempt to subvert the rule of law, and his lawsuits ask courts to step in and defy the will of voters."

MADISON - Former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Janine Geske -- appointed to the bench by former Republican Governor Tommy Thompson -- outlined in a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel op-ed the importance of the Court to protect the voices of Wisconsin voters.

Geske called President Trump’s lawsuits to overturn the election “a dangerous attempt to subvert the law” and disenfranchise hundreds of thousands of Wisconsin voters in just two counties. Read more below: 

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Opinion: Wisconsin Supreme Court should protect the voices of Badger state voters

The people of Wisconsin — and America — spoke on Nov. 3 and elected Joe Biden as the next president of the United States. His win was clear and decisive. In fact, President-elect Biden will be the first in American history to garner more than 80 million votes — he won 306 electoral votes compared with 232 for President Donald Trump.

Biden prevailed by more than 20,000 votes in Wisconsin. But shortly after Election Day, President Trump requested a recount in Dane and Milwaukee counties, while previewing baseless attacks against our state’s election system with the apparent goal of turning to the courts to overturn the results.

This is the same strategy we have seen the Trump campaign employ throughout the country, waging frivolous lawsuits in numerous states, asking the courts to disenfranchise millions of voters, and shredding our foundational norms in the process.

Let’s not mince words: President Trump’s actions are a dangerous attempt to subvert the rule of law, and his lawsuits ask courts to step in and defy the will of voters. There is not a single court in the country that has found his campaign’s claims to be credible and with good reason: There has been no evidence presented to support them and no colorable argument made to support the attacks.

I don’t look at this issue from a Republican or Democratic perspective. I was appointed by Republican Gov. Tommy Thompson to the Wisconsin Supreme Court and didn’t speak out publicly about a partisan candidate until this year. For me, this is about the law, our Constitution, and protecting the will of Wisconsin voters.

The issue before us is clear — the Trump campaign’s challenges have no grounding in the facts, law or reality. President Trump is seeking to disenfranchise hundreds of thousands of Wisconsin voters in just two counties, Milwaukee and Dane. These voters — our grandparents, teachers, doctors, many people of color — did nothing wrong. They followed the rules. They voted the same way as voters in La Crosse, Superior, Green Bay, and other communities across the state.

I know the Wisconsin Supreme Court, and I am confident the justices will have the integrity to see these baseless claims for what they are — an effort to change the rules of the election after it has been held because of one candidate’s disappointment with the result. That’s not how our democracy works, and the court knows that and will act accordingly to protect the sanctity of our elections and the rights of our citizens.

Justice Janine Geske previously served on the Wisconsin Supreme Court and was appointed by Republican Gov. Tommy Thompson before winning a statewide election.

The JFC is the principal legislative committee charged with the review of all state appropriations and revenues

MADISON – Today, Assembly Democratic Leader Gordon Hintz (D-Oshkosh) announced that he will be appointing Representative Evan Goyke (D-Milwaukee) and Representative Greta Neubauer (D-Racine) to the Legislature’s powerful Joint Committee on Finance (JFC) for the 2021-22 legislative session.

“Representative Goyke and Representative Neubauer understand the values and priorities important to people across Wisconsin. I am confident in their ability to help our state navigate these challenging times brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic,” Rep. Hintz stated. “As members of the Joint Committee on Finance they will also champion the long-term investments in public schools, transportation infrastructure, and health care our state needs.”

“Representative Goyke’s experience on this committee will help provide strong leadership as we move into the process of debating Governor Evers’ proposed state budget. I value Rep. Goyke’s legal background and ability to take complex subject areas and break them down for the committee and the people of Wisconsin. I am always impressed by his methodical work.

I am also honored to appoint my colleague Representative Greta Neubauer. Greta is a thoughtful, hardworking public servant who has been impressive since the first day she came to the Capitol. I know she will bring a new and unique perspective to the committee. Both members will play a key role in helping to shape a budget that helps the people of our state.”

The JFC is the principal legislative committee charged with the review of all state appropriations and revenues, including a comprehensive review of the Governor’s biennial budget recommendations.  The committee has 16 members, comprised of 12 Republicans and 4 Democrats. Representative Goyke and Representative Neubauer welcomed their appointments, and are looking forward to the process of beginning work on the biennial budget.

“I am honored to continue serving on the Joint Committee on Finance as the ranking Democratic member. Serving on Finance is a special responsibility and I look forward to working on the budget, especially during these challenging times,” Rep. Goyke stated. “As we determine our priorities moving forward, I will utilize my own experience and expertise to ensure that everyone’s voice is heard when making important policy decisions.”

“I am honored and deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve on the Joint Committee on Finance in the coming legislative session,” Neubauer said. “We are at a critical point in our state’s history, and the upcoming budget will be the most important in over a decade as we respond to the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. I want to thank Democratic Leader Hintz for his confidence in me, and I look forward to stepping up to meet these challenges and serving my constituents and the people of Wisconsin in this additional capacity. Let’s get to work on a budget that works for everyone in Wisconsin.”