On Monday, April 7, 2025, Wisconsin Public Radio reported that Michael Gableman, a former Wisconsin Supreme Court justice, has agreed to a three-year suspension of his law license as part of a settlement with the Office of Lawyer Regulation (OLR). The settlement follows multiple complaints regarding Gableman’s conduct during his investigation into the 2020 Wisconsin election, which was commissioned by Assembly Republicans and found no significant evidence of election fraud.
The OLR filed a detailed complaint in November 2024, accusing Gableman of violating Wisconsin’s professional conduct code in 10 instances. These allegations included making false statements, showing disrespect to a judge, and breaching confidentiality with Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, who initiated the investigation. The OLR’s recommendation for a three-year suspension will now be reviewed by a referee before proceeding to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, where Gableman served from 2008 to 2018.
Gableman’s investigation, launched in June 2021, was intended to evaluate the administration of the 2020 election. However, the OLR alleged that Gableman’s true aim was to challenge the election’s outcome. The investigation, which cost taxpayers over $2.3 million, primarily for legal fees to defend Gableman in related lawsuits, drew significant criticism. Vos terminated Gableman’s contract in August 2022, later describing his actions as an embarrassment to Wisconsin.
Throughout the investigation, Gableman faced legal challenges, including a lawsuit from American Oversight, a Washington, D.C.-based group, over his handling of public records. In one court hearing, Gableman was recorded on a hot mic suggesting an inappropriate relationship between the opposing counsel and Dane County Judge Frank Remington. Remington held Gableman in contempt, labeled the remarks misogynistic, and referred the matter to the OLR. American Oversight was awarded more than $440,000 in the public records lawsuit.
The OLR complaint also highlighted Gableman’s conduct before an Assembly committee in 2021, where he falsely claimed that city officials, including Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway and Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich, were obstructing his investigation. Gableman further accused Wisconsin Elections Commission Administrator Meagan Wolfe of participating in a cover-up, claims that lacked evidence. He also sought court orders to jail the mayors for non-compliance with subpoenas.
In March 2025, Gableman invoked the Fifth Amendment during an OLR inquiry, refusing to testify. The OLR clarified that this protection applies only to criminal cases, not regulatory proceedings. With a disciplinary hearing scheduled for June, Gableman reached a settlement, acknowledging that he could not successfully defend against the misconduct allegations. Taxpayers also covered nearly $50,000 for Gableman’s private legal representation during the OLR process.
Since the investigation, Gableman has remained active in Wisconsin’s election denial movement, creating tension with Vos, the state’s most prominent Republican. After Vos refused to pursue decertification of the 2020 election, Gableman endorsed Vos’ opponent in a primary challenge. Vos narrowly retained his seat and later supported efforts to disbar Gableman. Gableman also backed unsuccessful recall campaigns against Vos, which criticized the speaker for not impeaching Wolfe or overturning the 2020 election results.
Melanie Sloan, senior advisor for American Oversight, expressed satisfaction with the OLR settlement, stating that the organization was pleased with the recognition of Gableman’s disregard for legal standards and disrespectful behavior during litigation.
Source: Wisconsin Public Radio
