Maryann Sumi, the Wisconsin judge who blocked Wisconsin’s budget repair bill, has delivered her entirely unsurprising ruling throwing out the bill. The surprising thing is that she ruled so soon, thereby allowing the appellate process — which will almost certainly overrule her — to proceed.
Christian Schneider explains that Sumi, having made public pronouncements regarding the issue, was under pressure to recuse herself. By issuing her ruling, she has made the recusal matter moot.
As a tactical matter, it probably makes sense. It gets the ruling in place before anything can be done regarding her improper role in the case. But it doesn’t address the underlying ethical issue in the slightest.
Internet Scofflaw 