The court “will not suffer the sort of disinformation, foot-dragging, and obfuscation now being engaged in by Wisconsin’s elected officials and/or their attorneys,” reads a scathing ruling issued by a three-judge panel that ruled that a group associated with the Democratic Party has a right to information on how Republican lawmakers drew new legislative districts. That information has been withheld by Republicans and their attorneys, who have argued that the information is protected by attorney-client privilege.
Saying that GOP lawmakers and their attorneys have filed “frivolous” motions trying to keep their information private, the panel also required the attorneys for the Republican defendants to pay the attorneys’ fees for the plaintiffs for the motion.
“Quite frankly, the Legislature and the actions of its counsel give every appearance of flailing wildly in a desperate attempt to hide from both the court and the public the true nature of exactly what transpired in the redistricting process,” the ruling reads.
It’s worth noting two of the three judges hearing the case – J.P. Stadtmueller of the Eastern District of Wisconsin and Robert M. Dow Jr. of the Northern District of Illinois were appointed by Republican presidents. Stadtmueller was appointed by President Ronald Reagan, while Dow was appointed by President George W. Bush.
Oh my God! GOP’ers filing frivolous lawsuits! Can’t they get excommunicated for that? Or maybe draggged into the street and stoned?
I got 25 bucks says that Rick Esenberg and Ann Althouse promptly pen plodding, laborious and darkly hilarious blog posts explaining in torturous, labrynthine detail just why those three judges are wrong.
Any takers?
PS. Jeff, Tooooooooorrrrt Refooooooooorrrrmmmmm!!