Internet Explorer 11 is not supported

For optimal browsing, we recommend Chrome, Firefox or Safari browsers.

Wisconsin Supreme Court Sends Scott Walker Campaign Case Back to Lower Court

The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled Thursday it would stay away for now from lingering litigation over a now-closed investigation into Gov. Scott Walker’s campaign, leaving a Brown County judge to sort out the legal fight.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled Thursday it would stay away for now from lingering litigation over a now-closed investigation into Gov. Scott Walker’s campaign, leaving a Brown County judge to sort out the legal fight.

In its 4-0 order, the high court handed over to Brown County Circuit Judge Kendall Kelley millions of pages of emails and other evidence from the probe known as John Doe II. It will be up to Kelley — not the high court — to determine what to do with that material.

Individuals and entities who were caught up in the investigation contend the material should be returned to them because the Supreme Court terminated the investigation and found no one had engaged in any criminal wrongdoing.

“The John Doe II judge shall have authority to make all decisions in the first instance regarding that evidence,” the justices wrote in the unsigned order.

The ruling came as the governor gears up his re-election bid and two days after Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Rebecca Dallet won a seat on the high court. Dallet will be seated in August.

Caroline Cournoyer is GOVERNING's senior web editor.
Special Projects