This post originally appeared at https://www.wisconsinrightnow.com/chief-justice-wi-courts/

Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Annette Ziegler is accusing new state Courts Director Audrey Skwierawski of illegally approving appointments of reserve judges in her name.

According to an email from Ziegler to Skwierawski, which was obtained by Wisconsin Right Now, Ziegler wrote, “It has come to my attention that you have been signing my reserve judge orders without my knowledge or approval,” Ziegler wrote in the August 28, 2023, email to Skwierawski, a Milwaukee County Judge.

Ziegler continued: “You never asked me for permission. You do not have my permission. Stop. These orders are in my name. You have no lawful authority to sign them. If you have signed anything else under my name, please advise immediately. Any response should be done in writing.”

The latest salvo comes after a series of alleged illegal and unconstitutional actions by the new liberal majority. Ziegler previously accused the liberal justices of usurping the Constitutional authority of the chief justice, calling their behavior “nothing short of a coup” that constitutes a “pattern of lawless bullying.” That came after the justices struck the chief justice’s authority in numerous ways, such as court scheduling, and replaced it with a new committee they will control.

“Really they have changed the Constitution to insert a committee instead of the words chief justice,” Ziegler said then. “The Constitution is not being followed here.

Former Director of State Courts Randy Koschnick has filed complaints against the four liberal state supreme court justices and his replacement, Skwierawski, arguing that her appointment is illegal.

Earlier this month, Koschnick, who once ran for state Supreme Court as a conservative, was fired after Liberal Justice Janet Protasiewicz was sworn in, giving the liberals the fourth vote they need to control the court. He was not given a reason.

Koschnick filed five complaints Tuesday with the Wisconsin Judicial Commission requesting an investigation into the actions of Wisconsin Supreme Court Justices Ann Walsh Bradley, Rebecca Dallet, Jill Karofsky, Janet Protasiewicz, and Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Audrey Skwierawski who assumed Koschnick’s position. Those complaints are pending.