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Family Of Assault Victims Condemns Supreme Court TV Ad

Attack Ad From Business Group Criticizes Dallet Over Sentencing Decision

Supreme Court candidates Michael Screnock and Rebecca Dallet
Supreme Court candidates Michael Screnock and Rebecca Dallet. Rita Fadness/Milwaukee Rotary Club

The family of two young sexual assault victims is criticizing a TV ad that alludes to their case to attack Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Rebecca Dallet.

The ad airing across Wisconsin recounts a 2011 case in which Dallet, a Milwaukee County judge, sentenced the attacker to two years in prison instead of giving him a longer sentence.

A family member of the victims told WTMJ-TV the ad is “shameful” and “hurtful” because it includes specific details that could publicly identify the children who were assaulted.

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The ad is paid for by the Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce’s issues committee, which supports Dallet’s opponent, Sauk County Judge Michael Screnock. His campaign is not responsible for the ad.

In a statement, WMC’s Issues Mobilization Council stood by the ad, saying it’s based on publicly available records and that the group believes, “it is important for the public to be aware of Judge Dallet’s repeated instances of giving light sentences to criminals who abuse children.”

Dallet told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that the TV spot is “heartbreaking” and called on Screnock to ask the business group to pull the ad.

Screnock declined to do so but told the paper he respects victims’ rights.

Issues with endorsement

Meanwhile, a Sawyer County judge listed as endorsing Dallet says he actually supports her opponent, Screnock.

Judge John Yackel said Thursday that he never gave Dallet permission to list his name among the circuit court judges who support her candidacy. Yackel was listed on both Dallet and Screnock’s websites Thursday.

Yackel said he spoke with Dallet by phone but she never asked for his endorsement and he never gave it. Yackel describes himself as politically right-center and wants his name removed from her website.

Dallet’s campaign manager Jessica Lovejoy did not address Yackel’s concerns in a statement that instead emphasized Dallet has support from hundreds of judges and others.

Two other judges who initially endorsed Dallet have recently publicly rescinded their backing leading up to Tuesday’s election.