Former President Donald Trump’s lawyer in Wisconsin, James Troupis, has been suspended from a state judicial ethics panel following his recent felony charge in connection to a 2020 fake electors scheme. The Wisconsin Supreme Court took action against Troupis, who faces allegations for advising Republicans involved in attempting to cast Wisconsin’s electoral votes for Trump after his defeat in the 2020 election to Democrat Joe Biden.
Calls for Troupis to Step Down
Liberal advocates have been demanding Troupis’s resignation from the Judicial Conduct Advisory Committee, arguing that his involvement in the fake electors plot renders him unsuitable for the position. Troupis, along with another Trump attorney Kenneth Chesebro and former Trump aide Mike Roman, was charged by the state Attorney General Josh Kaul for their roles in the scheme.
Suspension and Court’s Action
The Wisconsin Supreme Court suspended Troupis from serving on the panel immediately, though no specific reason was provided for the decision. Notably, Justice Rebecca Bradley, one of the conservative minority members of the court, did not participate in the decision. Bradley was among the conservative justices who reappointed Troupis for a second term on the panel in March 2023, when the court had a conservative majority.
Troupis’s Background and Committee Membership
Troupis, a former judge, has been a member of the judicial committee since 2020, and his second three-year term was reappointed just over a year ago. The committee’s primary responsibility is to offer formal opinions and informal advice to judges and judicial officers regarding the state’s code of judicial conduct. While formal written opinions are rare, the committee provides informal advice regularly.
Legal Settlement and Implications
Troupis and Chesebro, along with ten other fake electors, settled a civil lawsuit last year, where they admitted their actions were part of an effort to challenge Biden’s victory in Wisconsin. Troupis defended the strategy as a reasonable course of action, emphasizing that the settlement aimed to avoid prolonged legal battles without admitting wrongdoing.
Recap of the Fake Electors Plot
The scheme involved preparing fake elector certificates and attempting to deliver them to Vice President Mike Pence. Despite efforts to challenge Wisconsin’s election results, Biden’s win was upheld by the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
Conclusion: Upholding Ethical Standards
The suspension of James Troupis underscores the importance of upholding ethical standards in judicial advisory roles. The legal actions taken against him and his involvement in the fake electors plot raise significant questions about his suitability for such positions. As the legal proceedings continue, it remains essential to ensure integrity and adherence to ethical principles within the state’s judicial system.
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