OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A formal complaint has been filed against Winnebago County Judge Scott Woldt, alleging the judge threatened retaliation against a lawyer and his clients because the attorney supported Woldt’s opponent in the spring election.
Judge Woldt defeated LaKeisha Haase in April to win a fourth term on the bench. He was first appointed to the bench in 2004.
Attorney Matthew Goldin’s complaint to the Wisconsin Judicial Commission was filed in late April. He asks the panel to “Please investigate to ensure the proper exercise of judicial power within our great state.”
According to the complaint, Goldin attended an attorney get-together on April 25.
“On my way out to leave Judge Woldt was sitting at the other end of the bar with Missy Woldt (spouse). He pulled me over and told me I was dead to him for allowing Haase to put a sign on my Omro property and that there would be ramifications for support of Haase. He said I now needed to advise my clients of this new situation with the Judge, and that from now on there would be consequences as a result of my allowing the Haase sign. The Judge indicated that these consequences were both to me and my clients. He indicated he would take out his anger and fury on myself and my clients. Then he said I could write him a check for $28,000.00 to pay for the contested judicial campaign and then we’d be square. I told him that would be unethical,” Goldin wrote.
Goldin said on another occasion, he was in Judge Woldt’s court, and a school field trip was in the courtroom.
“In response to a question, what is the worst part of your job? The judge responded that it was campaigning for office and all the mudslinging from his opponent. The judge was looking right at me and stated, off the record, but in the courtroom behind the bench with his robe on, that anyone who supported his opponent was fully responsible for all of the mudslinging that occurred during the campaign. I indicated to ADA Adam Levin later (before the Ruby Owl incident) that I thought he was directly speaking to me. I asked Judge Woldt if the comment was directed at me in our Ruby Owl conversation on 4/25/23, and he affirmatively stated yes it was. Judge Woldt was on the bench, in robe, and essentially scolding me for being somehow ‘disloyal,’” Goldin stated.
Judge Woldt has been disciplined by the state previously. In 2021, he was suspended without pay for seven days for a series of conduct violations.
