Wisconsin Supreme Court investigators have concluded that a confidential draft order leak in a major abortion case was deliberate, but they failed to identify the responsible individual despite an extensive investigation involving dozens of interviews and digital forensics.
Key Takeaways
- A confidential draft order in the Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin v. Urmanski abortion case was leaked to media, representing an unprecedented breach of Wisconsin Supreme Court confidentiality.
- Investigators interviewed 62 people and examined computer logs, emails, and printer data but couldn’t identify who leaked the document.
- The investigation determined the leak was likely deliberate rather than accidental or due to a system breach.
- Website visit logs for the critical period were missing due to data preservation failures, hampering the investigation.
- Security recommendations include improved document handling, credential protection, and proper data preservation protocols.
Unprecedented Breach of Court Confidentiality
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has released findings from an extensive investigation into a media leak in the Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin v. Urmanski abortion case, revealing serious concerns about court confidentiality. According to the investigation, a confidential draft order was leaked to WisconsinWatch.org, which quoted a specific sentence from the document. This represents the first breach of this kind in the court’s history, raising alarms about internal security procedures and the potential impact on judicial independence in handling controversial cases.
Investigators don't know who leaked a Wisconsin Supreme Court draft abortion order https://t.co/RhvP6a0zj6 pic.twitter.com/RipXmldOBU
— The Independent (@Independent) May 1, 2025
The leaked case involved significant debates on Wisconsin’s abortion law and its implications for bodily integrity, autonomy, and physicians’ rights – making the confidentiality breach particularly concerning given the politically divisive nature of abortion legislation.
Exhaustive Investigation Yields Few Answers
Investigators conducted a thorough examination of potential leak pathways, interviewing 62 individuals who had access to the draft order, including justices, staff members, and other court personnel. The investigation also analyzed computer network logs, web browsing histories, emails, and printer data to identify potential security breaches. Despite these extensive efforts, investigators found no evidence of a computer system breach or accidental document release, suggesting the leak was a calculated action rather than an oversight or technical vulnerability.
The investigation revealed concerning gaps in the court’s data security protocols. Website visit logs for the critical period were missing due to data preservation issues, creating a significant blind spot in the digital trail. The report specifically noted the impact of this failure on the investigation, stating that the loss of this data severely hampered investigators’ ability to track potentially suspicious activity during the relevant timeframe.
Security Vulnerabilities and Recommendations
The investigation also uncovered lapses in document handling that could have contributed to the leak. Documents were frequently left unattended on printer trays or mistakenly sent to incorrect departments, creating opportunities for unauthorized access. These operational weaknesses point to a casual approach to document security that may have facilitated the confidentiality breach, especially given the politically sensitive nature of abortion-related cases.
Following the investigation, authorities recommended several security improvements to prevent future leaks. These include prohibiting the sharing of login credentials, using government email accounts exclusively for official business, preserving data properly after security incidents, locking doors, preventing unauthorized access to sensitive areas, using tamper-resistant packaging, shredding documents appropriately, and promptly retrieving printed materials. The investigation has been suspended unless new information emerges, leaving the case effectively unresolved.
Sources:
Investigation unable to find source who leaked Wisconsin Supreme Court’s draft abortion order
Wisconsin Supreme Court releases results of investigation into media leak
Investigators don’t know who leaked a Wisconsin Supreme Court draft abortion order
