Wisconsin

DA Accused of Late-Night Porn Viewing Learns Lesson About Hotel Cameras

A Wisconsin district attorney was surprised when deputies showed up last November to investigate accusations that he was viewing porn on a computer in a hotel business center. Wood County District Attorney John Henkelmann wasn’t charged in the incident, the Associated Press reports. He told AP he had been drinking,…

Oct 1, 2010 12:34 PM CDT

Embattled DA Accused of Sending Sexually Harassing Texts Will Resign, His Lawyer Says

An embattled veteran prosecutor in Wisconsin will resign, his lawyer says, following accusations that he sexually harassed at least three women he apparently met on the job, according to the CNN Justice blog. The news came at a scheduling hearing today for what was to be an expedited removal proceeding…

Sep 27, 2010 6:05 PM CDT

Wis. Disciplinary Group Reopens Probe of Embattled DA Now Accused by Multiple Women

Citing “substantial new information” related to a possible “pattern of conduct” by a prosecutor accused of sexually harassing women in case-related text messages, Wisconsin’s Office of Lawyer Regulation announced today they are reopening an ethics case against embattled Calumet County District Attorney Kenneth Kratz. Although it had previously dismissed a…

Sep 24, 2010 5:25 PM CDT

‘I Am the Prize’ DA’s Self-Report to Bar Authorities Says Crime Victim Flirted with Him

Updated: After a domestic abuse victim complained to authorities that she felt sexually harassed by text messages from a married Wisconsin district attorney then overseeing the prosecution of her ex-boyfriend, observers including the state attorney general criticized the state Office of Lawyer Regulation for failing to discipline him. Calumet County…

Sep 23, 2010 4:18 PM CDT

Tenn. Prosecutor Resigns, NY Judge Loses License over Relationship with Defendant

An explosion of embarrassing news lately about claimed sexual and relationship misconduct by lawyers in positions of authority has cost two their careers. A longtime Tennessee prosecutor has resigned, after a female defendant in a felony drug case provided text and voice mail messages to support her claims that he…

Sep 22, 2010 6:42 PM CDT

As Gov Leans on Wis. DA in Sext Case, AG Says Lawyer Discipline Group Didn’t Do Its Job

Updated: The governor of Wisconsin promised in a press conference earlier this week to seek the removal of a controversial district attorney accused of harassing two women and asking a third to attend an autopsy on a date, as soon as a citizen made the prerequisite complaint. Now multiple citizens…

Sep 22, 2010 4:59 PM CDT

Jail Mail from Attorney Must Be Opened in Inmate’s Presence, 7th Circuit Says

Seeking to strike a balance between legitimate prison security concerns and an inmate’s right to confer confidentially with his or her attorney, a federal appeals court in Chicago has ruled that state officials must open such mail only in the presence of the inmate, to insure that legitimate “legal mail”…

Sep 21, 2010 7:52 PM CDT

Law Student Says Embattled DA Texted Her, Too; He Denies Seeking Autopsy Date with Another Accuser

An embattled Wisconsin prosecutor is now being accused by a law student of sending her harassing text messages over a year ago, after he agreed to help her seek a pardon in a decade-old drug case. The woman, Maria Ruskiewicz, alleges that Calument County District Attorney Ken Kratz sent her…

Sep 21, 2010 6:11 PM CDT

DA Who Texted Abuse Victim Takes Leave; Gov Seeks His Removal, Citing Claimed Autopsy Date Request

Updated: A Wisconsin prosecutor who admittedly sent 30 texts to a victim in a domestic violence case seeking a sexual relationship but says that shouldn’t prevent him from keeping his job allegedly told her, just before the chain of comments began, that he might reduce the felony charge against the…

Sep 20, 2010 6:39 PM CDT

Restaurant Trademarks Rooftop Goats and Pursues ‘Cloven-Hooved’ Violations

A Wisconsin restaurant that trademarked its rooftop goats in 1996 doesn’t hesitate to pursue alleged infringers. Al Johnson’s Swedish Restaurant in Sister Bay, Wis., has used rooftop goats to attract business since 1973, when someone gave restaurant founder Al Johnson one of the animals as a gag gift, the Wall…

Sep 17, 2010 1:24 PM CDT

Suspended Lawyer Pleads Insanity in Bank Robbery

A suspended Wisconsin lawyer accused of robbing a bank to pay his expenses has pleaded not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect. Peter Elliott, 62, entered the revised plea on Thursday, spurring a Waukesha judge to order a mental evaluation, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. Peter Elliott is…

Sep 17, 2010 12:32 PM CDT

Aim of New Law School Buildings Is to Keep Students on Campus

Law students can study with the aid of the Internet and their computers, so they don’t have to spend as much time on campus. Two new law school buildings were constructed with the aim of reversing that trend, the National Law Journal reports. Marquette University Law School is dedicating its…

Sep 8, 2010 1:44 PM CDT

Ex-Judge Reprimanded After Vowing to Let Cases Sit ‘Until Hell Freezes Over’

A former Wisconsin judge who complained about a lack of clerical help has been reprimanded for a backlog of about 3,500 cases. Former Judge John Zodrow had worked in the city of Cudahy municipal court, which had an annual caseload of about 4,000 cases, according to an opinion by the…

Aug 27, 2010 1:18 PM CDT

Lawyer Admits He Can’t Defend $2.4M Client Embezzlement Case, Loses License

After admitting that he can’t defend himself against charges that he embezzled $2.4 million from a corporate client and blew most of the money at casino slot machines and agreeing to be disbarred by consent, a Milwaukee attorney had his law license revoked today by the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Thomas…

Aug 25, 2010 5:10 PM CDT

Josh Groban Fan Files Suit Claiming Unexpected Encore Caused Fall

A Josh Groban fan claims an unexpected encore led to a fall and injuries at a 2007 concert in Milwaukee. The suit by Geraldine Grunwald claims the Bradley Center turned on the lights after Groban had apparently wrapped up his concert, but then the pop singer came back for an…

Aug 17, 2010 11:00 AM CDT