30-Year-Old Sexual Abuse Case Now Factor in Wisconsin Judicial Race

[Geee]

CNSnews:

(CNSNews.com) -- Tomorrow’s election for a spot on the Wisconsin State Supreme Court has received national attention as well as an influx of money from conservative and liberal groups in that state.

The growing national interest in the race between incumbent Republican Judge David Prosser and his Democratic challenger JoAnne Kloppenburg will determine the balance of the seven-judge court, which is expected to rule on the legality of controversial state collective bargaining reforms recently passed by Republican Governor Scott Walker.

The race has become even more heated in recent days following a television ad -- released by the Greater Wisconsin Committee, a left-wing advocacy group -- that accuses Prosser of refusing to prosecute former priest John Patrick Feeney, who had been accused of sexual abuse against two children in 1979.

In response to the ad, one of the victims, Troy J. Merryfield, accused the Greater Wisconsin Committee and Kloppenberg’s supporters of politicizing his sexual abuse for political gain and for taking Prosser’s initial decision not to immediately prosecute Feeney out of context.