![]() Without them, those hearings cannot proceed. Court reporters include stenographers typing in the courtroom and reporters who monitor a digital audio recorder.Ĭourt reporters are required by law to capture what happens in courtrooms when judges, attorneys, defendants and others are on the record. Koschnick's ouster comes after concerns among some judges over Koschnick's response to the national shortage of court reporters, including by installing software to record court proceedings that county officials can't control. "It's a wrecking ball," Koschnick said in a phone interview while at a New York Yankees home game. Koschnick said he was exploring what options he might have. "How can you fire somebody you never met?" he said. But Koschnick said he had assurances of support from the three conservative justices, leaving Protasiewicz as the key vote. He said Monday Karofsky did not say why he was losing his job, nor did she reveal which four justices agreed to replace Koschnick. In 2009, he lost his challenge to Abrahamson. Koschnick was appointed state courts director after serving as a Jefferson County judge for 18 years and a Jefferson County public defender for 14 years. Roggensack left the court Tuesday as Protasiewicz took her seat. For the previous 126 years, the state constitution had the most senior member of the court serve as chief justice. In 2015, the conservative majority ousted longtime Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson after voters approved changing how the head of the court is selected.įour justices on the seven-member court voted to put Patience Roggensack in charge just hours after state election officials certified the April 7, 2015, referendum results, allowing court members to choose the chief justice. Previous voting blocs have utilized their power to make dramatic changes as well. Her seat creates a liberal majority on the state's highest court - giving the justices the power to take a number of actions to reshape the status quo, including naming a new courts director. Protasiewicz, a former Milwaukee County circuit judge, joins the court Tuesday after defeating former conservative Supreme Court Justice Dan Kelly in April. Koschnick was paid $174,366 annually, the same as state Appeals Court judges. The state courts director is the chief non-judicial officer of Wisconsin's court system, overseeing the operation of courts across the state including developing the budget for the court system, advising the state Supreme Court on how to improve the court system, and overseeing technology and continuing education. "My colleagues’ unprecedented, dangerous conduct is the raw exercise of overreaching power. "To say that I am disappointed in my colleagues is an understatement," Ziegler wrote. Also, as chief justice, she said she is tasked with administrative authority for the court, something that she said is being "undermined." Ziegler said all seven justices should have been given the chance to provide input on the issue. ![]() Conservative radio host Dan O'Donnell first reported the phone call from Karofsky.Ĭhief Justice Annette Kingsland Ziegler, a conservative, put out a two-page statement Tuesday objecting to the decision to oust Koschnick, saying the move "was made without regard for the Constitution, case law, or Supreme Court rules." Karofsky did not respond to email messages and voicemails from the Journal Sentinel. Koschnick received the call from Karofsky a day before a swearing-in ceremony for the court's newest justice, Janet Protasiewicz, took place in the State Capitol while he was attending a conference for court administrators. There is a nationwide shortage, and Wisconsin is a leader in effectively addressing this shortage under my leadership." "This is due to the hard work of me and my staff in recruiting, hiring and training new digital court reporters. "Our statewide pool of digital court reporters is now fully staffed with no vacancies," Koschnick said via email. ![]() Some county judges, especially in Milwaukee County, have objected to his handling of this issue. Koschnick responded to his dismissal by touting his accomplishments during his time overseeing the state's court system, noting in particular that his office had helped resolve the court reporter shortage in the state. ![]()
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