Judicial abuse of office
A sitting judge using the power of their office to personally threaten, retaliate against, or extract a benefit from attorneys, litigants, witnesses, or court staff -- for political reasons, personal grievance, or private gain -- rather than exercising judicial authority for its lawful adjudicative purpose, as found or charged by a judicial oversight body. It matters because a judge's official power over the people who appear before them is supposed to be bound by law, not personal will.
2026 Events (1)
Wisconsin Judicial Commission charged Winnebago County judge with threatening attorneys, demanding $28,000 payment over political support
On August 3, 2026, the Wisconsin Judicial Commission filed a formal misconduct complaint with the Wisconsin Supreme Court against Winnebago County Circuit Court Judge Scott Woldt. The complaint alleges that after his contested 2023 reelection, Woldt threatened attorneys who had backed his opponent and demanded a $28,000 campaign-cost payment from one of them, and separately questioned a Filipino-descent psychiatrist expert witness's understanding of English during a 2023 hearing. Woldt, previously suspended in 2021 for unrelated misconduct, denies wrongdoing through his attorney; a three-judge panel will review the complaint.