MADISON, Wis. — The Office of the Supreme Court of the State of Wisconsin released a statement Friday afternoon from Chief Justice Patience Drake Roggensack.
In the statement, the Chief Justice expresses concern about recent comments aimed at members of the court.
“I acknowledge that all members of the public have the constitutional right to speak in criticism of public servants, which certainly includes all justices on the Wisconsin Supreme Court,” Chief Justice Roggensack wrote. “However, no justice should be threatened or intimidated based on his or her religious beliefs. Wisconsin has a long history of protecting the right to freely worship, as well as the right to freely speak.”
Roggensack also said that threats of “actual or proposed violence have no place in public discourse in a democratic society.”
“As we are about to begin a new year, let us all refocus on coming together where possible and treating those with whom we disagree with the respect that each of us would like to receive,” Roggensack concluded.
The office did not immediately respond to News 3 Now’s request for comment on why the statement was released on Christmas Day.
Justice Brian Hagedorn, who wrote the majority opinion in decision against President Trump in cases over the last few weeks, was singled out by President Trump in a series of tweets earlier this week.
Trump, who claimed his endorsement was among the reasons Hagedorn won the election, called the court’s 4-3 ruling in a case that sought to invalidate thousands of voters a “really incorrect ruling.”
Hagedorn wrote the majority ruling in that case, and has said since that security around him and his colleagues has been increased, according to The New York Times. He told the Times, “I’ve been told I might be tried for treason by a military tribunal.”
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