In Wisconsin’s spring primary, held February 21, four candidates were on the ballot for an open seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Former Justice Daniel Kelly, a judicial conservative, and Milwaukee County Judge Janet Protasiewicz, a judicial liberal, were the top two vote-getters. They will face off in the general election on April 4.
Category: Wisconsin Supreme Court
Supreme Court Candidates Discuss Philosophy and Key Cases at WisPolitics Forum
Currently, judicial conservatives enjoy a 4-3 majority on Wisconsin’s elected supreme court. Justice Patience Roggensack, a judicial conservative, is not seeking reelection, creating a vacancy which will decide control of the court. The race will be hotly contested, attracting a significant amount of attention. The top two vote-getters in the February 21 primary will square off in the general election on April 4. The four candidates for the open seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court met for a candidate forum on January 9.
State Supreme Court Appoints New Chief Appellate Judge
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has announced the appointment of a new chief appellate judge and the reappointment of five chief circuit court judges, effective August 1.
Graef v. Continental Indemnity Company (Worker’s Compensation Exclusive Remedy)
In Graef v. Continental Indemnity Company (2018AP1782), the Wisconsin Supreme Court held that an employee’s negligence claim was barred by the exclusive-remedy provision of the Wisconsin Worker’s Compensation Act.
Kemper Independence Insurance Company v. Islami (Insurance Denial for Concealment or Fraud)
In Kemper Independence Insurance Company v. Islami (2019AP488), the Wisconsin Supreme Court upheld an insurer’s denial of coverage based on the actions of a claimant’s estranged spouse.
State Supreme Court Chooses New Chief Justice
On April 14, a majority of the seven members of the Wisconsin Supreme Court voted to select Justice Annette Ziegler as the state’s next chief justice. She assumed the office on May 1. Justice Ziegler was first elected to the court in 2007 and ran unopposed in 2017. She is the court’s third longest-serving member.
Wisconsin Supreme Court Rules Against Gov. Evers in Public Health Emergency Case, Ending Statewide Mask Mandate
On Wednesday, March 31, the Wisconsin Supreme Court issued a ruling in Jeré Fabick v. Tony Evers, holding 4-3 that the governor cannot issue successive emergency declarations on the same subject. Petitioner Jeré Fabick sought a declaratory judgement on Governor Tony Evers’ authority to issue multiple public health emergency declarations related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Justice Brian Hagedorn delivered the majority opinion, joined by Chief Justice Pat Roggensack and Justices Annette Ziegler and Rebecca Bradley. Justice Ann Walsh Bradley wrote a dissenting opinion joined by Justices Rebecca Dallet and Jill Karofsky.
Mohns v. BMO Harris Bank (Discovery Violations)
In Mohns v. BMO Harris Bank (2018AP71), the Wisconsin Supreme Court held that the circuit court was within its discretion to impose judgement on liability, including for intentional misrepresentation, as a sanction for discovery violations.
Chief Justice Roggensack Delivers the State of the Judiciary
On November 5th, Chief Justice Roggensack delivered the first ever virtual State of the Judiciary at the Annual Meeting of the Wisconsin Judicial Conference.
Wisconsin Supreme Court Declines to Immediately Take Up Capacity Limit Case
In a 4-3 decision on November 4th, the Wisconsin Supreme Court declined to bypass the court of appeals and take up the capacity limit case brought by The Mix Up and Pro-Life Wisconsin.