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 Wisconsin Supreme Court published by Leagle.com. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Proof and Hearsay blog has a story.
Court officials repeatedly warned Zodrow about the backlog, but he did nothing about it, the opinion says. Zodrow had contended the court’s one full-time clerk couldn’t handle all the work, and the inadequate staffing forced him to spend time on clerical tasks.
He also objected to the city’s decision to cut court access to the police computer system, and he refused to adjudicate parking ticket stipulation cases in protest, the opinion says. He told the Wisconsin Judicial Commission that those cases “can sit and collect dust until hell freezes over” for all he cares.
Zodrow lost his bid for re-election in April and he expressed remorse for the backlog. The court said a reprimand is appropriate since it is unlikely he will repeat his conduct.
