Jensen witness list includes Prosser, Loftus

A state Supreme Court justice and a UW Regent -- both former Assembly speakers -- appear on the witness list filed in court today by the defense lawyer for another ex-Speaker -- Scott Jensen, R-Brookfield -- charged with three felony counts of misconduct in public office. The governor's campaign manager also made the witness list.

The defense also filed a request for the "learned treatise" of Tom Loftus' 1994 book, an inside look at lawmaking called The Art of Legislative Politics, admissible as evidence in court.

The witness list defense attorney Stephen Meyer submitted today reads like the Who's Who of Wisconsin politics.

It includes former Republican Assembly speaker and now-Supreme Court Justice David Prosser, and UW Regent Tom Loftus, a former Democratic Assembly Speaker, as well as Rich Judge, former director of the Assembly Democratic caucus and now-Gov. Jim Doyle's campaign manager.

Indefinite at this time is whether Dane County Circuit Judge Daniel Ebert will allow the defense to call them to the witness stand. He can restrict the scope of the defense.

But the judge won't act on the witness list until requested by one party or the other or during trial.

However, it's likely the state will scream bloody murder when they figure out some of these witnesses.

During the interim, the defense won't appeal Ebert's recent ruling denying a change of venue motion attorneys filed for Jensen and former GOP staffer Sherry Schultz, who faces one felony charge of misconduct in public office.

-- By Gary Fisher