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Democracy was on the ballot, November 8, 2022, and it won, with Wisconsinites reelecting Gov Tony Evers and Attorney General, Josh Kaul. 

Democracy will again be on the ballot with the election of a new Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice, April 4, 2023. 

Conservative Justice Patience Roggensack is retiring, leaving an open seat on the court. Currently the conservatives have control with a 4-3 majority. 

This could change after the April election with the election of a liberal Justice or remain status quo with another conservative justice. 

How have the rulings of the conservative majority in the current court affected our lives? 

The court upheld a law that ended collective bargaining for teachers and public workers, who still feel the negative consequences of this law. 

The court approved the Republican-drawn legislative maps, which were drawn by the Republican lawmakers in Madison to ensure that Republicans would retain control of both the Senate and the Assembly with hopes of gaining a supermajority in both chambers. 

In 2020 the Wisconsin Supreme Court narrowly rejected Trump’s challenge to overthrow the results of the Presidential election by a 4 – 3 vote. Three conservative justices voted in favor of Trump’s challenge.

The court overturned Gov Evers’ COVID-19 stay-at-home order. The ruling supported political ideology over public safety.

In June the court ruled that Frederick Prehn, a member of the Natural Resources Board, who refused to leave his seat after his term expired, can remain in this position indefinitely until his replacement is confirmed by the Senate. Gov Evers nominated Sandra Dee Naas to replace Prehn on the board, but the GOP dominated Senate refuses to confirm her, or others nominated for government positions. This ruling allows the Republican controlled legislature to obstruct the peaceful transfer of power. It also leaves many important positions without members.

The courts have disallowed voting options, which would make voting easier.

The rulings of the WI State Supreme Court seem to fall in line with and support Republican legislation in Madison. It has become a third Republican branch of state government, not the independent court it should be.

Top issues for the upcoming state Supreme Court session include challenges to the state’s 1849 abortion law and challenges to the current Republican drawn gerrymandered legislative maps.

Four candidates have qualified to be on the ballet for Wisconsin State Supreme Court: Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Janet Protasiewicz, Dane County Circuit Court Judge Everett Mitchell, Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Jennifer Dorow, and former Wisconsin State Supreme Court Justice Dan Kelly.

These candidates have already been labelled as conservative or liberal. Judges Mitchell and Protasiewicz are on the liberal side and Kelly and Dorow are on the conservative side.

Before voting it is important to know what their judicial philosophies are and to research their judicial voting records. Where do they stand on the important issues facing Wisconsin like the current abortion law or fair maps?

We need independent judges and not another partisan branch of government in Madison as we have now.

Soon we will be bombarded with all sorts of information and ads about the candidates – some true, some twisted, and some false. Be a responsible, informed voter. Use reliable sources to learn about the candidates. Look at conservative Wisconsin Supreme Court’s record.

Do we want to continue on the same old path or do we want a more independent court?

There will be a primary election, Tuesday, February 21, 2023. Voters will vote for one candidate and the top two vote getters will be on the April 4, 2023 ballot.

Remember, use reliable sources, be informed, and vote.