Wisconsin Supreme Court election outcome will steer state policy

“Justice Daniel Kelly will preserve constitutional rights, uphold the rule of law, and prevent judicial activism. He’s an experienced and trustworthy judicial conservative who will apply the law as it is written, rather than legislate from the bench. His opponent, Janet Protasiewicz, is a liberal activist who seeks to put her thumb on the scale by ruling based on her political beliefs, rather than the rule of law.”

https://justicedanielkelly.com/

Besides crime, abortion is a major issue in this race.

The three major Wisconsin state pro-life groups all support Dan Kelly: Wisconsin Family Action PAC, Wisconsin Right to Life, and Pro-Life Wisconsin PAC.

“Wisconsin voters will go to the polls April 4 to face a clear pro-life/pro-abortion choice, with the balance of power on the state Supreme Court at stake, based on the outcome of the state’s Feb. 21 primary.”

https://www.ncregister.com/blog/wisconsin-april-4-supreme-court-election

The Wall Street Journal profiled the race again this week…

WSJ: Wisconsin’s Judicial Election Donnybrook

Feb. 26, 2023
Judicial elections used to be sleepy, nonpartisan affairs, but not anymore. A race for an open Supreme Court seat in Wisconsin has become a brawl with the Democratic candidate all but declaring how she’ll rule on cases.

Conservatives on the Wisconsin court hold a 4-3 majority, but conservative Justice Patience Roggensack is retiring. Democrats are giddy at the prospect of controlling the court for the first time in more than a decade, and they’re not hiding their ambition to turn it into a policy engine.

Judicial candidates are traditionally circumspect about their policy views so as not to give the appearance of prejudging cases. Judge Protasiewicz has abandoned such legal niceties, all but forecasting her views on future cases. She’s been especially blunt on abortion rights. When the U.S. Supreme Court returned abortion policy to the states last year, Wisconsin law reverted to an 1849 statute that makes performing an abortion a felony except to save the woman’s life.

Judge Protasiewicz’s blunt statements on redistricting convince progressives she would toss out the district maps passed by the Wisconsin legislature.

She (Judge Protasiewicz) has also criticized the state’s contested judicial maps, calling them “rigged” though the Supreme Court reviewed them in 2022. “They do not reflect people in this state. I don’t think you could sell any reasonable person that the maps are fair,” Ms. Protasiewicz told a candidate forum. “I can’t tell you what I would do on a particular case, but I can tell you my values, and the maps are wrong.” No one believes she won’t overturn the maps in a future case.

Also in her potential line of fire: Act 10, the landmark 2011 law that limited the ability of government unions in Wisconsin to collectively bargain. The state’s right-to-work law, voter ID requirements and a voucher program for private schools could also be vulnerable.

Mr. Kelly, the GOP nominee, is a law and order candidate who highlights Judge Protasiewicz’s abysmal record on crime.

Mr. Kelly, the GOP nominee, is running largely against Judge Protasiewicz’s record of leniency toward felony defendants. One irony is that Democrats spent heavily to help Mr. Kelly get through the primary because they think he’ll be easier to beat. He was appointed by former Gov. Scott Walker in 2016 but lost a retention election in 2020 after being endorsed by Donald Trump. 

The race is sure to be the most expensive judicial election in Wisconsin history—with more than $6 million already spent by candidates and outside groups. Judge Protasiewicz raised some $2 million in the primary, more than the other three candidates combined. National progressives are pouring money into the contest. Mr. Kelly is counting on conservative donor Richard Uihlein’s Fair Courts America, but he’ll need much more to be competitive with the progressive machine.

The Wisconsin spectacle shows how much the judiciary is now being treated like the third political branch of government. It’s a depressing turn of events, but that is where we are.

Source: https://www.wsj.com/articles/wisconsin-supreme-court-election-janet-protasiewicz-patience-roggensack-daniel-kelly-7762dae1

Former Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker wrote an editorial in support of Dan Kelly, whom Governor Walker appointed to the state supreme court in 2016 to fill a vacancy.

Janet Protasiewicz is soft on crime and wrong for Wisconsin. As a Milwaukee County Judge, “No Jail Janet” has given light sentences to violent criminals time and again, putting Wisconsin families at risk. We can’t afford for Janet Protasiewicz to bring her radical, soft-on-crime agenda to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Janet spent years working to shape catch and release (or scold and release) policies with John Chisholm, the Milwaukee DA whose low bail policies led to the Waukesha Parade massacre.

As a Milwaukee County Judge, No Jail Janet has given light sentences to hardened criminals and no prison time to child sex offenders time and again. Her unwillingness to keep Wisconsin families safe disqualifies her for the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

https://nojailjanet.com/