A Wisconsin circuit court commissioner received a public reprimand by the state supreme court for presiding over cases of a close personal friend and for addressing a defendant in a case with anger and sarcasm.
Kenneth W. Gorski’s actions “undermined, rather than promoted, the public’s confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary,” the Supreme Court of Wisconsin’s opinion Thursday said.
Gorski worked part time in Wood County, Wis., where he presided over a small-claims case in 2015.
The plaintiff’s attorney, Timothy Gebert, was a “close, personal” friend of his, the court said.
In fact, while that case was ...
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