James Sample, counsel in the Democracy Program at the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law, is introducing the nation to the ethics of the Wisconsin judiciary.

And it's not pretty.

Sample's Can $2 Million For A Judge Buy A $350 Million Tax Refund? in the Huffington Post rips Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Annette Ziegler's corruption and the system allowing her to continue in her position.

Sample sees the Ziegler affair as emblematic of a national trend as state judicial systems become corrupt political machines.

Writes Sample:

In short, the influence of big money in our nation's state courts is nearing the point where, well, "you're going to want to tell your great grandkids about what happened to the rule of law in America back in the day."

Another Bad Air Quality Day: The WMC Has Said Suck It In Anyway

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has issued an ozone alert - - again - - for much of southeastern Wisconsin Wednesday.

The full text of the alert for Wednesday includes far more counties that those under a similar DNR dirty air watch on Sunday, right in the middle of a holiday (think outdoor activities) weekend - - Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Kenosha, Racine and Sheyboygan Counties.

Remember that in the name of economic growth, the Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce wants those pesky air quality standards in southeastern Wisconsin relaxed.

So you folks with asthma, or you outdoor workers and joggers, and all the kids and seniors from Door through Kenosha to Rock Counties - - the WMC says go suck some dirty air.