Michael Gableman#Investigation into 2020 election results

Michael J. Gableman was born in West Allis, Wisconsin, in 1966 and raised in Waukesha County. He is a graduate of New Berlin West High School (1984) and Ripon College (1988), where he earned a bachelor's degree in education and history.{{Cite web |title=Former justices - Justice Michael J. Gableman |url=https://www.wicourts.gov/courts/supreme/justices/retired/gableman.htm |access-date=October 7, 2021 |website=Wisconsin Court System}}{{Cite report |url=https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/misc/lrb/blue_book/2013_2014/ |title=State of Wisconsin 2013–2014 Blue Book |publisher=Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau |page=10 |isbn=978-0-9752820-6-9 |chapter-url=https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/misc/lrb/blue_book/2013_2014/200_biographies.pdf |year=2013 |editor-last1=Pohlman |editor-first1=Julie |editor-last2=Lemanski |editor-first2=Lynn |chapter=Biographies |accessdate=April 22, 2019}} After college, Gableman taught American history at George Washington High School in the Milwaukee Public School system (1988–1989) before pursuing a legal career. He graduated from Hamline University School of Law in 1993.

While in law school, he worked as a part-time law clerk in the United States Attorney's office in Minneapolis. After graduating, he served as a law clerk at the state district court level in Douglas County, Minnesota, and the state circuit court level in Brown County, Wisconsin. He became a half-time assistant district attorney in Langlade County, Wisconsin, in 1996, and worked the other half time at a private law office while also serving as deputy corporation counsel for Forest County. Gableman then worked as an assistant district attorney in Marathon County.

In May 1999, governor Tommy Thompson appointed Gableman to the vacant post of district attorney of Ashland County.{{Cite news |date=May 13, 1999 |title=DA's office scrambles to cover caseload |page=3 |work=Wausau Daily Herald |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86664846/marathon-co-prosecutors/ |access-date=October 7, 2021 |via=Newspapers.com}} Gableman was elected to a full term in this office in 2002, but resigned shortly after his election to accept an appointment as an administrative law judge in the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development.{{Cite news |date=June 4, 2002 |title=Prosecutor named Ashland County DA |work=The Post-Crescent |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86664942/gableman-duffy/ |access-date=October 7, 2021 |via=Newspapers.com}}

Later that year, Gableman was appointed Wisconsin circuit court judge for Burnett County, by Governor Scott McCallum. He was elected to a full term in the April 2003 general election, receiving 78% of the vote over Burnett County district attorney Kenneth L. Kutz.{{Cite report |url=https://elections.wi.gov/sites/elections.wi.gov/files/elec03_results.pdf |title=Results of Spring General Election - 04/01/2003 |date=May 6, 2003 |publisher=Wisconsin State Elections Board |page=4 |accessdate=October 7, 2021}}

In Burnett County, Gableman established an inmate community service program, a juvenile community service program, a drug and alcohol court, and a restorative justice program for which he served as chairman of the board for six years.{{Cite web |last=Briggs |first=Steve |date=2017-06-24 |title=Gableman won’t seek Supreme Court re-election |url=https://www.burnettcountysentinel.com/news/gableman-won-t-seek-supreme-court-re-election/article_457ed5de-5878-11e7-926b-fbbdea797c80.html |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=burnettcountysentinel.com |language=en}} He also was an adjunct professor of law at Hamline University School of Law, teaching criminal procedure and professional responsibility.

In October 2007, Gableman announced he would run for Wisconsin Supreme Court, challenging incumbent justice Louis B. Butler.{{Cite news |last=Johnson |first=Shawn |date=October 5, 2007 |title=Gableman Announces Candidacy for Supreme Court Justice |work=Wisconsin Public Radio |url=https://www.wpr.org/gableman-announces-candidacy-supreme-court-justice |access-date=October 7, 2021}} Gableman described himself as a judicial conservative.{{Cite news |last=Forster |first=Stacy |date=March 31, 2008 |title=Gableman says his judicial philosophy in line with voters |work=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |url=http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/31986044.html |access-date=October 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151003050540/http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/31986044.html |archive-date=October 3, 2015 |via=Wayback Machine}} In the April 1, 2008, general election, Gableman narrowly defeated Butler and became the first challenger to defeat an incumbent Wisconsin supreme court justice since 1967.{{Cite news |date=April 2, 2008 |title=Gableman victorious |work=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |url=http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/29406414.html |access-date=October 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110411072634/http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/29406414.html |archive-date=April 11, 2011}}

Gableman's election in 2008 was seen as part of a trend of outside big-money interests becoming a major factor in state judiciary elections.{{Cite magazine |date=March 11, 2008 |title=The Gableman Controversy |url=https://www.milwaukeemag.com/TheGablemanControversy/ |magazine=Milwaukee Magazine |accessdate=October 7, 2021}}{{Cite magazine |date=March 6, 2008 |title=Factcheck.org: Judgment Day in Wisconsin |url=https://www.newsweek.com/factcheckorg-judgment-day-wisconsin-84397 |magazine=Newsweek |accessdate=October 7, 2021}}

The Wisconsin Judicial Commission brought an ethics charge against Gableman.{{Cite report |url=http://www.wispolitics.com/1006/090316_WJC_statement_of_facts.pdf |title=Judicial Commission's Statement of Facts - Case No. 2008AP002458-J |date=February 27, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718072509/http://www.wispolitics.com/1006/090316_WJC_statement_of_facts.pdf |archive-date=July 18, 2011 |work=Wisconsin Judicial Commission |via=Wispolitics.com, Wayback Machine |accessdate=October 7, 2021}} The charges alleged that a campaign advertisement in which he accused Butler of working "to put criminals on the street" and accusing Butler of finding a "loophole" that resulted in the release of a child molester, was false and misleading.{{Cite news |date=December 1, 2008 |title=Editorial: Justice Gableman deserves public reprimand |page=7 |work=Green Bay Press-Gazette |url=http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20081201/GPG0602/812010526 |access-date=October 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201000000/http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20081201/GPG0602/812010526 |archive-date=December 1, 2008 |via=Newspapers.com}} [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86667483/gableman-reprimand/ Alt URL] Gableman claimed in the defense of his ad that his free speech rights were violated by the judicial conduct rule he was accused of breaking.{{Cite news |date=November 20, 2008 |title=Gableman says his free speech rights were violated |work=New Richmond News |url=http://www.newrichmond-news.com/articles/index.cfm?id=18386§ion=Wisconsin%20News&property_id=18 |access-date=December 3, 2008}}{{Cite news |last=Davidoff |first=Judith |date=November 26, 2008 |title=Gableman hires anti-abortion attorney to fight ethics charges |work=The Capital Times |url=http://www.madison.com/tct/news/316003 |access-date=October 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081126000000/http://www.madison.com/tct/news/316003 |archive-date=November 26, 2008 |via=Newspapers.com}} [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86669246/gableman-attorney/ Alt URL]

A three-judge panel was then charged with the preliminary investigation into whether the campaign ad violated the Wisconsin Code of Judicial Conduct.{{Cite news |last=Yeager |first=Alicia |date=December 4, 2009 |title=Complaint Against Justice Gableman Moves Forward |work=The Badger Herald |url=http://badgerherald.com/news/2009/12/04/complaint_against_ju.php |access-date=October 7, 2021}} In November 2009, the panel unanimously recommended that the complaint against Gableman be dismissed.{{Cite report |url=http://justiceatstake.org/media/cms/Gableman_A06DD06BAC1E0.pdf |title=Judicial Conduct Panel's Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Recommendation - Case No. 2008AP2458-J |date=November 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100602210545/http://justiceatstake.org/media/cms/Gableman_A06DD06BAC1E0.pdf |archive-date=June 2, 2010 |work=Wisconsin Judicial Commission |via=JusticeAtStake.org, Wayback Machine |accessdate=October 7, 2021}} Procedure required that the Wisconsin Supreme Court make the final determination as to whether there was an ethics violation. When the court deadlocked 3-3, the commission stopped pursuing the case.

In January 2011, the group 9to5 Milwaukee filed an ethics complaint with the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board against Gableman for failing to recuse himself from a case in which he allegedly had a financial interest.{{Cite news |last=Stein |first=Jason |title=Another ethics complaint filed against Justice Gableman |work=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |url=http://m.jsonline.com/136819938.htm |access-date=October 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024071116/http://m.jsonline.com/136819938.htm |archive-date=October 24, 2014 |via=Wayback Machine}}{{Cite news |last=Marley |first=Patrick |date=January 20, 2012 |title=Gableman says he won't recuse himself from disputed cases |work=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |url=https://archive.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/gableman-says-he-wont-recuse-himself-from-disputed-cases-3u3sq57-137796433.html/ |access-date=October 7, 2021}} Gableman received legal counsel from July 2008 to July 2010 from the Wisconsin law firm of Michael Best & Friedrich on a contingency fee basis. He received the services from the law firm as it defended him against a separate ethics charge. Gableman never declared the receipt of the services in his official disclosure statements. Critics characterized the legal contingency-fee arrangement as "free" legal services, a characterization Michael Best & Friedrich rejected.{{Cite news |last=Marley |first=Patrick |date=December 15, 2011 |title=Justice Gableman not charged legal fees in ethics case |work=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |url=https://archive.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/gableman-not-charged-legal-fees-pc3f5do-135711223.html/ |access-date=October 7, 2021}}

In 2017, Gableman said he would not run for re-election in 2018.{{Cite news |last=Marley |first=Patrick |date=May 1, 2017 |title=Madison lawyer Tim Burns announces Wisconsin Supreme Court run for Michael Gableman's seat |work=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2017/05/01/madison-lawyer-tim-burns-announces-wisconsin-supreme-court-run-michael-gablemans-seat/101164268/ |access-date=October 7, 2021}}

Following Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 United States presidential election, the defeated incumbent, Donald Trump, refused to concede, made claims of fraud and launched a campaign to challenge the results in a number of states, including Wisconsin. Gableman injected himself into the discussion and suggested the election was "stolen" from Trump.

Following Biden's inauguration in 2021, Wisconsin Republicans hired Gableman to investigate the conduct of the 2020 United States presidential election in Wisconsin. Gableman's appointment came just 15 hours after former president Donald Trump had accused Vos and other Wisconsin Republicans of engaging in a "cover up" of the election results.{{Cite news |last=Beck |first=Molly |date=June 26, 2021 |title=A former Wisconsin Supreme Court justice will oversee the latest election review sought by the state's GOP leaders |work=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2021/06/26/former-wisconsin-supreme-court-justice-michael-gableman-will-oversee-robin-vos-2020-election-review/5357319001/ |access-date=October 10, 2021}}

Gableman issued subpoenas to a number of local officials in Green Bay and Milwaukee, subsequently admitting that he didn't actually understand how elections were supposed to be conducted.{{Cite news |last=Marley |first=Patrick |date=October 6, 2021 |title=Former Supreme Court Justice Gableman, head of Republican review of Wisconsin election, says he does not understand how elections work |language=en-US |work=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2021/10/06/republican-reviewing-2020-vote-says-he-doesnt-know-how-elections-work/6020978001/ |access-date=October 7, 2021}} His fourteen-month investigation resulted in various unsubstantiated accusations against municipal clerks and members of the Wisconsin Elections Commission, but found nothing of substance. Gableman himself became a lightning rod for controversy; he called for opponents of his review to lose their offices, he called for witnesses to be jailed if they did not comply with his interview process,{{Cite web |last=Marley |first=Patrick |title=Wisconsin Republicans seek to jail more officials as part of their review of the 2020 presidential election |url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2022/02/18/wisconsin-republicans-michael-gableman-seeks-jail-officials-2020-presidential-election-review/6853176001/ |access-date=2022-02-19 |website=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |language=en-US}} he was the target of several lawsuits, and he was fined for contempt due to his record-keeping practices.

The watchdog group American Oversight released documents obtained by an open record act request in a lawsuit against Assembly Speaker Republican Robin Vos. They show that Gableman's staff for his Republican party review of the state's 2020 presidential election, was initially provided with a $676,000 budget in public funds for a process that was supposed to end by November. His staff included members of former President Donald Trump's administration, conspiracy theorists, and others who have falsely claimed the 2020 election was stolen. They have examined election records in search of fraud.

Gableman earned $11,000 a month. Some staff members, including former White House attorney Andrew Kloster, received up to $5,000 a month or $450 hourly. Ron Heuer, president of a group that sued to overturn the results of the election, was paid $3,250 monthly. Clint Lancaster, an Arkansas attorney was paid $10,000 monthly while others, including a former Milwaukee Police detective, earned $40 hourly.

The American Oversight-released document show that the review staff made amateur mistakes and communicated with conservative businessman Mike Lindell, the "My Pillow Guy." Gableman and his staff also visited the site of a Maricopa County, Arizona "audit" as well as a South Dakota "symposium" Lindell operated. Wisconsin taxpayers underwrote thousands in travel expenses. Gableman had spent $175,500, the bulk being paid for staff salaries. He and many of his staff members have made the false claim that Trump won the 2020 election. Biden actually won Wisconsin by 20,682 votes.{{Cite report |url=https://elections.wi.gov/sites/elections.wi.gov/files/2020-11/Jacobs%20-%20Signed%20Canvass%20for%20President%20-%20Vice%20President_0.pdf |title=Statement of Canvass for President, Vice President and Presidential Electors - General Election, November 3, 2020 |date=November 30, 2020 |publisher=Wisconsin Elections Commission |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201211164942/https://elections.wi.gov/sites/elections.wi.gov/files/2020-11/Jacobs%20-%20Signed%20Canvass%20for%20President%20-%20Vice%20President_0.pdf |archive-date=December 11, 2020 |url-status=dead |accessdate=December 17, 2021}}

The review has been criticized for being a waste of taxpayer money and for harming public confidence in Wisconsin’s elections. In late November, Gableman requested a Waukesha County judge to order the local Sheriff’s Office to arrest the mayors of Green Bay and Madison for failure to appear to testify. Such testimony demanded of local and state election officials has generated considerable contention with simultaneous court battles happening in widespread jurisdictions. Officials have said they would testify in public forums, but Gableman insisted he be allowed to question them privately. The state statutes permitting legislative committees to appoint special counsels to conduct investigations require public testimony.

Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul (D) filed a lawsuit against Gableman and his attempt to subpoena Wisconsin Elections Commission Administrator Meagan Wolfe. An attorney for the Green Bay mayor threatened to file for sanctions against Gableman over his attempt at arresting the targeted mayors. Hearings regarding those cases were scheduled for December 22nd and 23rd, 2021.[https://wisconsinexaminer.com/brief/documents-reveal-high-pay-for-gablemans-staff/ Documents reveal high pay for Gableman’s staff], Wisconsin Examiner, Henry Redman, December 6, 2021. Retrieved December 16, 2021.

When the Gableman inquiry was criticized by Republican state Sen. Kathleen Bernier, Gableman said he hoped that Bernier would not be re-elected.{{Cite web |last1=Ferral |first1=Katelyn |last2=Marley |first2=Patrick |date=2021-12-24 |title=Gableman calls for GOP state senator to resign as he signals he wants more taxpayer funding for his election review |url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2021/12/23/gableman-calls-resignation-gop-senator-who-criticized-him/9006648002/ |access-date=2021-12-24 |website=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |language=en-US}}

In 2022, Gableman said that mayors and others who refused to be interviewed by him behind closed doors should be incarcerated.

Gableman released his interim report in March 2022. The report endorsed numerous debunked claims of fraud and conspiracy theories.{{Cite news |last=Epstein |first=Reid J. |date=2022-03-01 |title=Wisconsin Republicans' Election Report Endorses Debunked Legal Theories |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/01/us/politics/wisconsin-republicans-election-report.html |access-date=2022-03-02 |issn=0362-4331}} It also made false assertions about lawmakers’ power to decertify President Biden’s victory.{{Cite web |last=Montellaro |first=Zach |title=Wisconsin GOP's 2020 report embraces fringe election decertification theory |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2022/03/01/wisconsin-republicans-embrace-election-decertification-00012793 |access-date=2022-03-02 |website=POLITICO |date=March 2022 |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Allemand |first=Alyssa |date=2022-03-01 |title=Gableman report calls for decertifying 2020 election. The Legislature's nonpartisan lawyers say that's not possible. |url=https://www.wpr.org/gableman-report-calls-decertifying-2020-election-legislatures-nonpartisan-lawyers-say-thats-not |access-date=2022-03-02 |website=Wisconsin Public Radio |language=en}} The report made false claims based on incomplete and misinterpreted data, particularly related to voting in nursing homes, and Gableman's office declined to answer questions from journalists about Gableman's unsubstantiated claims.{{Cite web |last=Rogan |first=Adam |title=Gableman's numbers don't add up: Flaws found in data, conclusions on nursing home voting |url=https://journaltimes.com/news/local/gablemans-numbers-dont-add-up-flaws-found-in-data-conclusions-on-nursing-home-voting/article_f2454a30-b11c-11ec-a9a5-574e78afa8bf.html |access-date=2022-06-17 |website=The Journal Times |date=31 March 2022 |language=en}}

Gableman's report cited The Gateway Pundit, a far-right conspiracy website. Wisconsin governor Tony Evers called the report "a colossal waste of taxpayer dollars."{{Cite web |date=2022-03-01 |title=Lawmakers, officials react to claims made in Gableman election report |url=https://www.channel3000.com/lawmakers-officials-react-to-claims-made-in-gableman-election-report/ |access-date=2022-03-02 |website=Channel3000.com |language=en-US}}

During the course of the probe, Gableman's team either ignored or was slow to respond to records requests by journalists and watchdog groups.{{Cite web |date=2022 |title=Michael Gableman deleting records he deems 'irrelevant or useless' to his taxpayer-funded election review |url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2022/04/21/gableman-deleting-records-he-deems-useless-election-review/7388000001/ |url-access=subscription |website=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel}} Court documents in April 2022 revealed that Gableman routinely deleted emails, text messages and other documents gathered and produced by his probe.

On June 15, 2022, Gableman was found in contempt by Circuit Court Judge Frank D. Remington after he refused to answer questions in the courtroom after being subpoenaed to appear. The Court stated, "Gableman's demeaning conduct has discredited the profession and every other person sworn 'to commit themselves to live by the constitutional processes of our system'." The Court imposed fines on Gableman of $2,000 a day until he complies with court orders related to the open records requests,{{Cite web |date=2022-06-15 |title=Judge: Michael Gableman 'irreparably damaged the public's perception of the judicial process' |url=https://madison.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/judge-michael-gableman-irreparably-damaged-the-publics-perception-of-the-judicial-process/ |access-date=2022-06-15 |website=madison.com |language=en-US}} and reported his conduct to Wisconsin's Office of Lawyer Regulation for "appropriate disciplinary action."{{Cite web |date=2022-06-15 |title=June 15, 2022 Contempt Ruling and Referral to OLR |url=https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/22060600/june-15-2022-american-oversight-v-wisconsin-assembly-and-office-of-special-counsel-circuit-court-order-and-decision-on-contempt.pdf |access-date=2022-06-16 |website=documentcloud.org |language=en-US}}

On August 12, 2022, Gableman was fired by Speaker Vos after endorsing Vos' challenger in the 2022 primary election. Gableman's firing came three days after Vos narrowly defeated his primary challenger by 260 votes.{{Cite news |last=Epstein |first=Reid J. |date=August 12, 2022 |title=A Top Wisconsin Republican Fires the 2020 Election Investigator He Hired |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/12/us/politics/robin-vos-michael-gableman-2020-election.html |access-date=August 12, 2022}}{{Cite news |last=Schmidt |first=Mitchell |date=August 12, 2022 |title=Speaker Robin Vos fires Michael Gableman, marking end to 2020 election review |work=Wisconsin State Journal |url=https://madison.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/speaker-robin-vos-fires-michael-gableman-marking-end-to-2020-election-review/article_b8825858-dfdc-5348-b432-ce362e4bf8d4.html |access-date=August 12, 2022}} Vos would later criticize Gableman's conduct in the probe, going as far as commenting in 2024 that he hoped Gableman would be disbarred for his conduct during the probe, calling him an "embarrassment" both to all lawyers{{cite web |last1=Kremer |first1=Rich |title=Vos 'Hopes' Michael Gableman Gets Disbarred for 2020 Election Review Actions |url=https://www.wpr.org/news/robin-vos-michael-gableman-hope-disbarred-2020-election-review-actions |website=WPR |access-date=8 April 2025 |date=25 November 2024}} and to the state of Wisconsin.{{Cite news|url= https://www.wpr.org/politics/former-2020-election-investigator-michael-gableman-hints-revolution-speech-outagamie-county |title= Former 2020 election investigator Michael Gableman hints at revolution in speech to Outagamie County Republicans |first= Rich |last= Kremer |date= September 19, 2022 |work= Wisconsin Public Radio |accessdate= April 17, 2024 }}

Although Gableman's position was terminated in August 2022, at least four lawsuits related to his contract, record keeping, and use of authority continued well into 2023, costing Wisconsin taxpayers additional millions in legal expenses.{{Cite news |last=van Wagtendonk |first=Anya |date=February 3, 2023 |title=Price tag on Gableman probe nearing $2M, report finds |work=Wisconsin Public Radio |url=https://www.wpr.org/wisconsin-price-tag-michael-gableman-probe-nearing-2-million-report-finds |access-date=March 1, 2023}}

In August 2023, progressive-leaning voting rights firm Law Forward filed a grievance against Gableman with the State Bar of Wisconsin's Office of Lawyer Regulation.{{cite news|url=https://wisconsinexaminer.com/briefs/gablemans-law-license-suspended-for-three-years/|title=Gableman’s law license suspended for three years|author1=Henry Redman|publisher=Wisconsin Examiner|date=April 7, 2025}} In November 2024, the OLR filed a complaint against Gableman detailing ten counts of misconduct in which Gableman had violated professional rules of conduct for attorneys during the probe.{{cite web |last1=Kremer |first1=Rich |title=Court Regulators Call for Sanctions Against Michael Gableman For Election Investigation |url=https://www.wpr.org/news/court-regulators-sanctions-michael-gableman-election-investigation |website=WPR |access-date=8 April 2025 |date=19 November 2024}} The complaint was 75 pages long{{cite web |last1=Merck |first1=Kathryn |title=Michael Gableman Agrees to 3-Year License Suspension Following 2020 Election Probe |url=https://cbs58.com/news/michael-gableman-agrees-to-3-year-license-suspension-following-2020-election-probe |website=CBS58 |access-date=8 April 2025 |language=en |date=April 7, 2025}} and accused Gableman of mischaracterizing discussions with Green Bay and Madison city officials, lying about improper communications with city officials, false testimony, disregard for open records laws, using the investigation for personal gain, breaching his duty of confidentiality with Vos and the State Assembly by disclosing discussions with Vos and his staff, and lying to the OLR during its investigation.{{cite news|url=https://wisconsinexaminer.com/2024/11/19/wisconsin-office-of-lawyer-regulation-files-disciplinary-complaint-against-gableman/|title=Wisconsin Office of Lawyer Regulation files disciplinary complaint against Gableman|author1=Henry Redman|publisher=Wisconsin Examiner|date=November 25, 2024}}

In April 2025, Gableman reached a settlement in which he accepted a three-year suspension of his law license (being disbarred).{{cite web |title=Gableman to Surrender Law License in Wisconsin |url=https://wislawjournal.com/2025/04/08/gableman-agrees-to-surrender-law-license |publisher=Wisconsin Law Journal |agency=The Associated Press |access-date=8 April 2025 |date=8 April 2025}}{{cite web |last1=Marley |first1=Patrick |last2=Rodriguez |first2=Sabrina |last3=McDaniel |first3=Justine |last4=Tucker |first4=Brianna |last5=Alfaro |first5=Mariana |last6=Schaul |first6=Kevin |last7=Davenport |first7=Christian |title=Former Wisconsin Justice to Give Up Law License Over 2020 Election Review |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/04/07/gableman-wisconsin-2020-election-denier |website=The Washington Post |access-date=8 April 2025 |date=7 April 2025}} The OLR and Gableman jointly filed a stipulation with the Wisconsin Supreme Court detailing this agreement. In the stipulation, Gableman acknowledged that he was unable to "successfully defend" himself against the OLR's allegations, and conceded that there was "an adequate factual basis" to the allegations.{{cite news|url=https://www.wpr.org/news/gableman-law-license-suspended-lawyer-regulation-wisconsin-elections|title=Gableman might temporarily lose law license after deal with Wisconsin regulation board|author1=Anya Van Wagtendonk|publisher=Wisconsin Public Radio|date=April 7, 2025}} This settlement deal will go before a referee overseeing the case, before going before the state supreme court for final approval.

{{Election box begin | title= Wisconsin Circuit Court, Burnett Circuit Election, 2003{{Cite report |url=https://elections.wi.gov/sites/elections.wi.gov/files/primSpr03_results.pdf |title=Results of Spring Primary Election - 02/18/2003 |date=March 3, 2003 |publisher=Wisconsin State Elections Board |page=2 |accessdate=October 7, 2021}}{{Cite report |url=https://elections.wi.gov/sites/elections.wi.gov/files/elec03_results.pdf |title=Results of Spring General Election - 04/01/2003 |date=May 6, 2003 |publisher=Wisconsin State Elections Board |page=4 |accessdate=October 7, 2021}} }}

| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| Nonpartisan Primary, February 18, 2003 (top-two)

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = Michael Gableman (incumbent)

|votes = 1,582

|percentage = 72.37%

|change =

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = Kenneth L. Kutz

|votes = 446

|percentage = 20.40%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = Dennis C. Lieder

|votes = 158

|percentage = 7.23%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party =

|candidate = Scattering

|votes = 0

|percentage = 0.0%

|change =

}}

{{Election box total

|votes = 2,186

|percentage = 100.0%

|change =

}}

| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| General Election, April 1, 2003

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = Michael Gableman (incumbent)

|votes = 3,263

|percentage = 78.17%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = Kenneth L. Kutz

|votes = 909

|percentage = 21.78%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party =

|candidate = Scattering

|votes = 2

|percentage = 0.05%

|change =

}}

{{Election box plurality

|votes = 2,354

|percentage = 56.40%

|change =

}}

{{Election box total

|votes = 4,174

|percentage = 100.0%

|change =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title= 2008 Wisconsin Supreme Court election{{Cite report |url=https://elections.wi.gov/sites/elections.wi.gov/files/2008_SpringElection_Results_Summary.pdf |title=Results of Spring General Election - 04/01/2008 |date=April 21, 2008 |publisher=Wisconsin State Elections Board |page=1 |accessdate=October 7, 2021}}}}

| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| General Election, April 1, 2008

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = Michael Gableman

|votes = 425,101

|percentage = 51.19%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = Louis B. Butler (incumbent)

|votes = 402,798

|percentage = 48.50%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party =

|candidate = Scattering

|votes = 2,551

|percentage = 0.31%

|change =

}}

{{Election box plurality

|votes = 22,303

|percentage = 2.69%

|change =

}}

{{Election box total

|votes = 830,450

|percentage = 100.0%

|change =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{CongLinks |votesmart= 102390}}
• {{Ballotpedia|Michael_Gableman}}
• [https://www.wicourts.gov/courts/supreme/justices/retired/gableman.htm Justice Michael J. Gableman] at Wisconsin Court System

{{s-start}}

{{s-legal}}

{{s-bef|before = J. B. Van Hollen }}

{{s-ttl|title = District Attorney of Ashland County, Wisconsin |years= May 1999{{spaced ndash}}May 2002 }}

{{s-aft|after = Sean Duffy }}

{{s-bef|before = James Taylor }}

{{s-ttl|title = Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge for the Burnett Circuit |years= May 2002{{spaced ndash}}July 31, 2008 }}

{{s-aft|after = Kenneth Kutz }}

{{s-bef|before = Louis B. Butler}}

{{s-ttl|title = Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court|years=August 1, 2008{{spaced ndash}}July 31, 2018}}

{{s-aft|after = Rebecca Dallet}}

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{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gableman, Michael}}

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