Bradley ducked out of Supreme Court arguments to make speech for right-wing group

Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Rebecca Bradley ducked out of oral arguments early last week so she could give a speech to the state’s largest business group, which has spent heavily on judicial candidates who will support their business interests on the bench. Her behavior drew strong criticism Friday from her opponent in next month’s election.

Appointed to the state’s highest court last October by Republican Gov. Scott Walker, Bradley is backed by right-wing corporate PACs in her race for a full 10-year term. She faces state Appeals Court Judge JoAnne Kloppenburg, who is backed by progressives in the April 5 election.

Although the contest is officially labeled “nonpartisan,” in recent years court races have become as political as other elected offices in Wisconsin.

Bradley gave the speech on Feb. 24 at the Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce’s “business day” event in Madison. The event was held at a convention center about three blocks from the Capitol, where the high court was hearing arguments that afternoon. Her speech was scheduled to begin at roughly the same time as arguments were concluding in a case about a woman whose child-care certification had been revoked.

Bradley’s campaign confirmed on Friday that left arguments early to attend the event.

“Supreme Court justices routinely excuse themselves from portions of oral arguments for personal or scheduling reasons,” campaign spokeswoman Madison Wiberg said in a statement. “Justice Bradley had reviewed all briefs in detail before the oral arguments, while on the bench she had heard answers to the queries posed by her colleagues and had no further inquiries on the merits of the case when she excused herself to attend a previously scheduled speaking engagement.”

Bradley’s political opponents blasted the move, noting that she told business leaders at that event “I am your public servant.”

Kloppenburg’s spokeswoman, Melissa Mulliken, said the early departure was “appalling.”

“There is nothing routine about a justice on the Supreme Court leaving oral arguments to curry favor with Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce,” Mulliken said. “It is absolutely clear that Rebecca Bradley’s allegiance is to the big money special interests and partisan politics that she has used to fuel her fast track rise. It is appalling she would so blatantly disregard her duty and the people of Wisconsin.”

Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce has yet to spend money in this year’s court race. But in four races between 2007 and 2013, it spent an estimated $5.6 million to help elect conservative justices, according to a tally by the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, a group that tracks campaign spending. All four of the justices that WMC backed won their races and now comprise the conservative majority of the court.

Bradley’s opponents have tried to paint her as beholden to corporate and right-wing interests, pointing to her being appointed three times by Walker, her appearances at WMC events and the fact that prominent Republicans are raising money to help her campaign.

“Instead of doing her job, Rebecca Bradley left a hearing to run off and pledge ‘I am your public servant’ to the state’s big business lobby she hopes will spend big in her race like they did to elect four other conservative justices,” said Scot Ross, leader of the liberal activist group One Wisconsin Now.