WEBSTER- The Northland Freedom Alliance met Saturday, Jan. 21. The NFA states that it is “a non-partisan not-for-profit organization of patriotic Wisconsinites. The mission of the NFA is to educate and advance our communities through the strength of our constitutional republic to ensure sound governance and freedoms prescribed in the Bill of Rights.” Some of the main focuses of the group include connecting locals with one another who share similar concerns, helping to register voters, watching local officeholders to see that they are keeping with their oaths and the Constitution, and engaging the community in civic action.
Attorney Wendy Eckman spoke to the question of “What is a judge?” She posed that there are three main qualities to look for. One, that they are a servant of the law as it is written, not as they wish it to be. Two, that they take a scholarly approach to the law and interpret the law in the context of how it was meant at the time it was written. And third, what she called “comportment of judicial quality of the judge.” This meant that they are a good listener and will hear and litigate with respect. Eckman stated that litigants need confidence to have a fair and impartial trying of a case based on law.
Justice Daniel Kelly followed Eckman’s appeal to impartiality stating that recently left-leaning candidates he had debated had said they would rule impartially 99% of the time, but put their thumb on the scale at times. He emphasized this cannot be done as it takes away the law from the legislators. During the question-and-answer portion of Kelly’s time, several very good questions were asked. Kelly had to be careful not to give a personal opinion, should it reach him in the Supreme Court if elected and he would have to recuse himself, but he framed his answers in a way that would help attendees to think about the legal parameters. Three of the main issues that arose were gun control, abortion and free speech.
As the federal government has recently passed a requirement for brace support, one attendee asked about a statement by the Polk County Sheriff’s Department that they would not be enforcing the requirement until further litigation. Kelly stated that while the federal government has authority, it does not have authority to co-opt the sheriffs. Also, questions to ask would be, “Did the federal government follow the rule-making process, and do they have the constitutional authority to make the order?”
Regarding the 1849 statute being challenged by Attorney General Josh Kaul, Kelly pointed out that the original law says that abortion is unlawful from conception with the exception of threat to the life of the mother. Kelly went on to point out that when saving the life of the mother, it is technically not an abortion and is considered a medical procedure, so under technical definition it would not be considered relevant in any law related to abortion at all. A subsequent statute later restricted abortion after 15 or 16 weeks. Kelly stated that the actual question currently regarding the Kaul case is if the latter statute violates the former.
As for free speech, it was mentioned that it seemed like news of violations of free speech and privacy were constantly occurring and it was asked what rights citizens do have. Kelly responded that the First Amendment was designed to protect us from the government telling us what we can and can’t say. He went on to say that we then have to consider what rules apply between an individual and a private company, and consider a company a group of people you have a relationship with. Tucked away in a user agreement is an agreement to allow the selling of your personal information, so you get to decide if you want your personal information to go all over or not. Now, what the government can do to us with that information is supposed to be limited to the constraint of the law. If the government is not allowed to do something themselves, they can’t get someone else to do it on their behalf, as they then become a government agent. Eckman mentioned this is the current problem being brought to light from admissions in recent congressional hearings by Twitter and Facebook of curtailing free speech and shadow banning certain accounts at governmental request.
Galina Werdier is a former Webster graduate who said she was inspired to run for the Webster School Board this year after policies and procedures were forced during COVID such as masking, testing and vaccination. She also felt there was a lack of transparency at times with the school board policies and procedures, and expressed concerns about subjects that were either proposed, on the way or being currently implemented in the school systems locally and elsewhere, such as critical race theory, social emotional learning, gender ideology and parents’ potential lack of authority to influence what is being done in the classroom.
The Northland Freedom Alliance was created in 2021 by a group of local citizens that were concerned about erosion of their freedoms and liberties. The area the NFA is connected with includes 10 county regions, Burnett, Washburn, Barron, Rusk, Sawyer, Price, Iron, Ashland, Bayfield and Douglas. For more information about the group you can go to northlandfreedomalliance.com or email info@northlandfreedomalliance.com
