Attorney: Wis. justice should stay on recall case

MADISON, Wis. — An attorney says state Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman shouldn’t recuse himself from a case that could affect recall efforts because he received free legal services.

Republicans want the Supreme Court to decide whether new legislative boundaries should go into effect for recalls targeting four GOP state senators.

Attorney Jeremy Levinson filed a motion last month arguing Gableman shouldn’t participate in the case. Levinson noted Gableman received free legal services from the Michael Best and Friedrich law firm as he defended himself against an ethics complaint. That firm helped the GOP redraw the legislative boundaries.

The Republicans’ attorney, Michael Dean, filed a response contending Levinson’s argument is based on salacious media reports and offers almost no legal analysis. Dean says Gableman’s arrangement with the law firm was proper.