The web version here detailing Judge Janice Wilson’s ruling jailing Bill Sizemore on contempt charges doesn’t do justice to Oregon Public Broadcasting audio of Judge Wilson’s rulings.

Mr. Sizemore is the well-known racketeer who seems to have chosen a battle of wills with Judge Wilson. I don’t know whether Mr. Sizemore underestimated Judge Wilson’s resolve, or whether this is calculated as a form of protest. Regardless, he’s out of his league in choosing this battle with Judge Wilson. She’s among the brightest on the bench and as tough as any judge in this state.

I’m not privy to the details of this case. I’m not inclined to be the least bit sympathetic toward Bill Sizemore, as his reign of racketeering has done great harm to this state.  So I have to admit to laughing when I heard the report. I recognize that my reaction is very wrong.  But I’m sure that part of it was due to my first hand experience in both winning and losing in front of Judge Wilson. Like I say, she’s tough.

I take issue with one thing in the OPB report. It describes Mr. Sizemore as the “anti-tax” activist. True, he cut teeth circulating tax related initiatives. But he’s also gone after land use rules, political contributions, unions, trial lawyers, building code enforcement, bilingual education, and whatever else his patrons will fund.

If memory serves, he got completely skunked at the ballot box in the last round of elections. And now it appears that he’s thumbing his nose at the court. It’s nice to see that Judge Wilson is taking seriously her oath of office. It would be easy to duck from taking on Mr. Sizemore’s misconduct for fear of angering his constituents. Score another for judicial integrity, as Judge Wilson did not shirk her responsibilities to the justice system.

Update: More comprehensive story here. For those who may claim that Judge Wilson is “biased” the Oregonian story notes that she also criticized the unions for using the contempt hearing for political advantage.

David Sugerman

Tags: contempt, Judge Wilson, Sizemore