Michael Gableman, a former Wisconsin Supreme Court justice who led a Republican-led review of the state’s 2020 election results, has agreed to surrender his law license following accusations of professional misconduct.
Gableman, who served on the state’s highest court from 2008 to 2018, filed a stipulation with the Wisconsin Office of Lawyer Regulation (OLR) on Monday, agreeing to a three-year suspension of his license. The suspension is subject to approval from the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which holds the final authority over such disciplinary decisions.
In the filing, Gableman acknowledged that the OLR’s complaint from November 2024 provided “an adequate factual basis” for the allegations and that he would be unable to defend himself successfully against the charges.
A spokesperson for the OLR declined to comment, while Gableman’s attorney did not immediately respond to inquiries.
Gableman was hired by Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos in June 2021 to investigate claims of voter fraud in the state’s 2020 presidential election. However, Vos terminated Gableman’s services in August 2022. During the investigation, Gableman made controversial claims, including suggesting that Wisconsin lawmakers dissolve the state’s bipartisan election commission and that they decertify the results of the 2020 election. Democrat Joe Biden had won the state by nearly 21,000 votes, a result confirmed by recounts and a state audit.
The OLR’s complaint accuses Gableman of violating several professional rules during his investigation. These included making false statements, such as accusing city officials of failing to cooperate when they had in fact complied. He is also accused of making disparaging remarks about opposing counsel and a state judge. Additionally, Gableman allegedly breached confidentiality rules while participating in unsuccessful efforts to recall Vos in the spring of 2024.
The investigation, which was funded by the Wisconsin State Assembly to the tune of $2.3 million, has now led to Gableman’s professional downfall.
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