Recall and Disbar Judge Jacob Frost for Misconduct

Recent signers:
anonymous student and 19 others have signed recently.

The Issue

In Dane County, Madison, Wisconsin, our community's trust in the judiciary is crumbling under the weight of unjust decisions and unprofessional conduct by one of our own, Judge Jacob Frost. The feeling of betrayal runs deep among us, the residents who once believed in a fair and unbiased legal system. The damage he has inflicted upon the integrity of our judicial system is not just a personal grievance but a matter of public concern.

Judge Frost has engaged in conduct that goes beyond just poor judgment; his actions exhibit blatant partisan misconduct that puts his loyalty to political interests above his duty to justice. This has led to significant judicial failures, affecting the lives of many in our community and undermining the very foundation of trust upon which our system rests.

Examples of his misconduct are abundant. Judge Frost has shown a consistent pattern of bias in his rulings, favoring certain political groups over the fair application of law, as reported by multiple local news outlets. His decisions have resulted in unfair trials, fostering a climate where justice is not served equally. Specific cases highlight how his partisan bias has led to outcomes detrimental not only to individuals but also to the broader values we hold as a society.

We Demand the Recall and Disbarment of Judge Jacob Frost for Partisan Misconduct and Judicial FailuresPetition 

We, the undersigned, call for the immediate recall and disbarment of Dane County Judge Jacob Frost due to his egregious partisan conduct, judicial misconduct, and critical failures in overseeing cases that have had devastating consequences for our community. Judge Frost’s actions have undermined public trust in the judiciary and contributed to tragic outcomes, including the events leading to the horrific school shooting at Abundant Life Christian School on December 16, 2024.

Why This Matters: Partisan Bias in the Courtroom: Judge Jacob Frost has demonstrated acute partisan political behavior that compromises the impartiality required of a judge. His decisions appear to be influenced by political affiliations rather than the law, eroding the fairness and integrity of the judicial process. He wants to be a liberal media star, not a unbiased judicial official. The judiciary must remain a neutral arbiter of justice, and Judge Frost’s conduct fails to meet this standard.


Judicial Misconduct Judge Frost exhibited clear misconduct by “ignoring critical evidence,” “displaying bias toward one party,” or “failing to adhere to legal standards”. This misconduct not only violated rights to a fair hearing but also set a dangerous precedent for how justice is administered in Dane County. He thumbs his nose at the constittuion and peoples constitutional rights, and breaks proper process routinely. And has been found to taunt litigants unprofessionally in the court room. And site zero precedent thus making his decision on things other than fact, law, evidence. In fact he doesnt even evaluate evidence that is potentially at his disposal, before making rulings. To conclude Due process is nill under this individual.

Prior Lawsuit by Kristin Bausch: Judge Frost has previously been sued by Kristin Bausch for [insert details of the lawsuit, e.g., “professional misconduct” or “violations of judicial ethics,” if known]. This lawsuit raises serious questions about his fitness to serve, yet he has continued to preside over sensitive cases without adequate accountability. The fact that such allegations exist underscores the need for a thorough investigation into his conduct.


Mishandling of the Rupnow Custody Dispute: Perhaps most alarmingly, Judge Frost presided over the custody dispute involving Natalie “Samantha” Rupnow, a 15-year-old who tragically carried out a school shooting at Abundant Life Christian School, killing a teacher, Erin West, and a student, Rubi Vergara, before taking her own life. Despite known concerns about Natalie’s mental health struggles and high-risk behavior, as documented by Dane County authorities and her therapist, Judge Frost awarded sole custody to her father, Jeffrey Rupnow. This decision granted Natalie access to firearms stored in her father’s home, which she later used in the shooting. Court records indicate that Jeffrey Rupnow purchased the firearms—a Glock 9mm and a Sig Sauer .22 caliber—used in the attack, and Natalie herself wrote in her manifesto that she obtained these weapons through “lies and manipulation, and my father’s stupidity.”

Dane County was aware of Natalie’s issues, including her engagement in high-risk online behavior and therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder stemming from her parents’ tumultuous divorces. Yet, Judge Frost’s ruling failed to account for these red flags, placing Natalie in an environment that enabled her access to deadly weapons and ultimately contributed to the loss of innocent lives.

The Consequences of Inaction:The shooting at Abundant Life Christian School was a preventable tragedy that has left our community grieving and searching for answers. Judge Frost’s decisions in the Rupnow custody case ignored critical warning signs, directly contributing to the circumstances that allowed Natalie Rupnow to carry out this devastating act. His history of alleged misconduct and partisan behavior further demonstrates that he is unfit to hold judicial office. Allowing him to continue presiding over cases risks further harm to our community and undermines the principles of justice.

Our Demands:

We urge the Wisconsin Judicial Commission, the Wisconsin Supreme Court, and the Dane County Circuit Court to take the following actions:Recall Judge Jacob Frost: Remove Judge Frost from his position as a Dane County Circuit Court Judge due to his demonstrated unfitness for office.


Disbarment Proceedings: Initiate proceedings to disbar Judge Frost from practicing law, given his pattern of misconduct and failure to uphold judicial ethics.


Independent Investigation: Conduct a thorough, transparent investigation into Judge Frost’s conduct, including his handling of the Rupnow custody case and prior allegations raised by Kristin Bausch.


Judicial Reform: Implement stronger oversight mechanisms to ensure judges are held accountable for partisan behavior and decisions that endanger public safety.


Join Us in Seeking Justice:The families of Erin West and Rubi Vergara, the survivors of the Abundant Life Christian School shooting, and all residents of Dane County deserve a judiciary that prioritizes fairness, safety, and accountability. Judge Jacob Frost’s actions have failed our community, and we cannot allow such failures to continue. Sign this petition to demand his recall and disbarment and to ensure that no more lives are lost due to judicial negligence.Sign Now to Protect Our Community and Restore Trust in Our Courts!

Moreover, the oversight of sensitive cases under his tenure has been severely lacking, with reports of mismanagement that have culminated in tragic consequences. The victims and their families bear the scars of a judiciary that fails to uphold equitable justice for all its residents.

It's imperative to address these issues head-on. We propose the recall and disbarment of Judge Jacob Frost to restore faith in our judiciary. The removal of a judge who fails to uphold the principles of fairness and equality is a critical step in ensuring that our legal system remains a bastion of integrity and justice for all. 

Join us in demanding accountability and advocating for a judicial system that prioritizes the fair treatment of all individuals. Together, we can push for the necessary changes to prevent further decay of trust and ensure that justice served in Dane County is truly just.

Please sign this petition to call for the recall and disbarment of Judge Jacob Frost. 

 

See the related video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSQnPMKa80A&t=12s 

57

Recent signers:
anonymous student and 19 others have signed recently.

The Issue

In Dane County, Madison, Wisconsin, our community's trust in the judiciary is crumbling under the weight of unjust decisions and unprofessional conduct by one of our own, Judge Jacob Frost. The feeling of betrayal runs deep among us, the residents who once believed in a fair and unbiased legal system. The damage he has inflicted upon the integrity of our judicial system is not just a personal grievance but a matter of public concern.

Judge Frost has engaged in conduct that goes beyond just poor judgment; his actions exhibit blatant partisan misconduct that puts his loyalty to political interests above his duty to justice. This has led to significant judicial failures, affecting the lives of many in our community and undermining the very foundation of trust upon which our system rests.

Examples of his misconduct are abundant. Judge Frost has shown a consistent pattern of bias in his rulings, favoring certain political groups over the fair application of law, as reported by multiple local news outlets. His decisions have resulted in unfair trials, fostering a climate where justice is not served equally. Specific cases highlight how his partisan bias has led to outcomes detrimental not only to individuals but also to the broader values we hold as a society.

We Demand the Recall and Disbarment of Judge Jacob Frost for Partisan Misconduct and Judicial FailuresPetition 

We, the undersigned, call for the immediate recall and disbarment of Dane County Judge Jacob Frost due to his egregious partisan conduct, judicial misconduct, and critical failures in overseeing cases that have had devastating consequences for our community. Judge Frost’s actions have undermined public trust in the judiciary and contributed to tragic outcomes, including the events leading to the horrific school shooting at Abundant Life Christian School on December 16, 2024.

Why This Matters: Partisan Bias in the Courtroom: Judge Jacob Frost has demonstrated acute partisan political behavior that compromises the impartiality required of a judge. His decisions appear to be influenced by political affiliations rather than the law, eroding the fairness and integrity of the judicial process. He wants to be a liberal media star, not a unbiased judicial official. The judiciary must remain a neutral arbiter of justice, and Judge Frost’s conduct fails to meet this standard.


Judicial Misconduct Judge Frost exhibited clear misconduct by “ignoring critical evidence,” “displaying bias toward one party,” or “failing to adhere to legal standards”. This misconduct not only violated rights to a fair hearing but also set a dangerous precedent for how justice is administered in Dane County. He thumbs his nose at the constittuion and peoples constitutional rights, and breaks proper process routinely. And has been found to taunt litigants unprofessionally in the court room. And site zero precedent thus making his decision on things other than fact, law, evidence. In fact he doesnt even evaluate evidence that is potentially at his disposal, before making rulings. To conclude Due process is nill under this individual.

Prior Lawsuit by Kristin Bausch: Judge Frost has previously been sued by Kristin Bausch for [insert details of the lawsuit, e.g., “professional misconduct” or “violations of judicial ethics,” if known]. This lawsuit raises serious questions about his fitness to serve, yet he has continued to preside over sensitive cases without adequate accountability. The fact that such allegations exist underscores the need for a thorough investigation into his conduct.


Mishandling of the Rupnow Custody Dispute: Perhaps most alarmingly, Judge Frost presided over the custody dispute involving Natalie “Samantha” Rupnow, a 15-year-old who tragically carried out a school shooting at Abundant Life Christian School, killing a teacher, Erin West, and a student, Rubi Vergara, before taking her own life. Despite known concerns about Natalie’s mental health struggles and high-risk behavior, as documented by Dane County authorities and her therapist, Judge Frost awarded sole custody to her father, Jeffrey Rupnow. This decision granted Natalie access to firearms stored in her father’s home, which she later used in the shooting. Court records indicate that Jeffrey Rupnow purchased the firearms—a Glock 9mm and a Sig Sauer .22 caliber—used in the attack, and Natalie herself wrote in her manifesto that she obtained these weapons through “lies and manipulation, and my father’s stupidity.”

Dane County was aware of Natalie’s issues, including her engagement in high-risk online behavior and therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder stemming from her parents’ tumultuous divorces. Yet, Judge Frost’s ruling failed to account for these red flags, placing Natalie in an environment that enabled her access to deadly weapons and ultimately contributed to the loss of innocent lives.

The Consequences of Inaction:The shooting at Abundant Life Christian School was a preventable tragedy that has left our community grieving and searching for answers. Judge Frost’s decisions in the Rupnow custody case ignored critical warning signs, directly contributing to the circumstances that allowed Natalie Rupnow to carry out this devastating act. His history of alleged misconduct and partisan behavior further demonstrates that he is unfit to hold judicial office. Allowing him to continue presiding over cases risks further harm to our community and undermines the principles of justice.

Our Demands:

We urge the Wisconsin Judicial Commission, the Wisconsin Supreme Court, and the Dane County Circuit Court to take the following actions:Recall Judge Jacob Frost: Remove Judge Frost from his position as a Dane County Circuit Court Judge due to his demonstrated unfitness for office.


Disbarment Proceedings: Initiate proceedings to disbar Judge Frost from practicing law, given his pattern of misconduct and failure to uphold judicial ethics.


Independent Investigation: Conduct a thorough, transparent investigation into Judge Frost’s conduct, including his handling of the Rupnow custody case and prior allegations raised by Kristin Bausch.


Judicial Reform: Implement stronger oversight mechanisms to ensure judges are held accountable for partisan behavior and decisions that endanger public safety.


Join Us in Seeking Justice:The families of Erin West and Rubi Vergara, the survivors of the Abundant Life Christian School shooting, and all residents of Dane County deserve a judiciary that prioritizes fairness, safety, and accountability. Judge Jacob Frost’s actions have failed our community, and we cannot allow such failures to continue. Sign this petition to demand his recall and disbarment and to ensure that no more lives are lost due to judicial negligence.Sign Now to Protect Our Community and Restore Trust in Our Courts!

Moreover, the oversight of sensitive cases under his tenure has been severely lacking, with reports of mismanagement that have culminated in tragic consequences. The victims and their families bear the scars of a judiciary that fails to uphold equitable justice for all its residents.

It's imperative to address these issues head-on. We propose the recall and disbarment of Judge Jacob Frost to restore faith in our judiciary. The removal of a judge who fails to uphold the principles of fairness and equality is a critical step in ensuring that our legal system remains a bastion of integrity and justice for all. 

Join us in demanding accountability and advocating for a judicial system that prioritizes the fair treatment of all individuals. Together, we can push for the necessary changes to prevent further decay of trust and ensure that justice served in Dane County is truly just.

Please sign this petition to call for the recall and disbarment of Judge Jacob Frost. 

 

See the related video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSQnPMKa80A&t=12s 

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The Decision Makers

Melissa Agard
Dane County Executive
Ismael Ozanne
Dane County District Attorney
Elizabeth Doyle
Dane County Board of Supervisors - District 1

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Petition created on August 30, 2025