Free Speech Or Child Abuse? Court To Rule On Mother’s Tirade

The Wisconsin Supreme Court will decide whether a mother’s verbal tirade against her 14-year-old son was criminal abuse, or free speech. The court heard arguments Wednesday in the case of 44-year-old Ginger Breitzman of Milwaukee, who was convicted of child abuse and child neglect. She was also convicted of disorderly conduct when she gave an profane rant to her son for burning popcorn — and her son’s friend heard the tantrum while the two boys were on the phone. Breitzman contends that her trial lawyer was ineffective because for not making the case that she exercised her First Amendment free speech rights with her comments — but a state attorney said it shouldn’t be automatic for criminal defense lawyers to raise deeper constitutional concerns. The Supreme Court heard the case Wednesday before high school students in Jefferson as part of the court’s long running “On the Road” educational program.