(The Center Square) – Wisconsin’s retiring Supreme Court justice says she supports looking at every way to get money out of the races for the state’s highest court.
Justice Ann Walsh Bradley was a guest on UpFront over the weekend, and talked about how money is playing a role in selecting justices.
“It’s dangerous to the court,” she said. “It’s dangerous to our form of government. You know, one of the reasons we can exist as an institution is because we have the public trust and confidence of the people.”
Wisconsin saw the nation’s two most expensive judicial races, back-to- back.
Justice Janet Protasiewicz’s 2023 race against former Supreme Court Justice Dan Kelly saw more than $50 million in spending from both the candidates and outside groups. However, that price tag was dwarfed earlier this year when Susan Crawford and Brad Schimel, along with a long list of outside groups, spent nearly $100 million.
Walsh Bradley, whose retirement opened the door for the Crawford- Schimel race, said she supports looking at ways to move money away from judicial elections.
“There are initiatives that are being discussed in the Legislature now,” Walsh Bradley explained. “I think there are public groups that are also discussing some alternatives. They don’t come easily. The United States Supreme Court has a case called Citizens United that equates speech with money, and so there are difficulties in regulating some of this, but that doesn’t mean that it’s an impossible challenge”
Some of the options include changing how judges are elected or possibly appointing judges.
Wisconsin voters will see their next Supreme Court race next spring. They will also see a new Supreme Court race each year until 2030.
Liberals will hold a majority for at least the next three years, as the court’s conservative justices are on the ballot next.
The next race will see Justice Rebecca Bradley run for re-election. She has one, declared opponent. Former Madison lawmaker, and current Appeals Court Judge Chris Taylor.
Walsh Bradley will leave the court next month, when Justice-elect Crawford is sworn-in.
