Online
Choosing a Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice
In case you’re somehow on the fence about the upcoming state Supreme Court election, the League of Women Voters of Dane County has brought together a panel of legal experts — not the candidates — to field questions: UW Law School professor Robert Yablon, retired state Court of Appeals Judge Paul B. Higginbotham, and Law Forward general counsel Jeff Mandell. Attorney Marilyn Townsend will moderate. In addition to the overall subject of evaluating a candidate for the court, topics covered include campaign finance and the 2025-2026 Wisconsin Supreme court docket.
media release: Voters in the state will be tasked once again with choosing a Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice in April after the seat was left open by Ann Walsh Bradley, who announced her retirement in April 2024.
The League of Women of Dane County (LWVDC) recognizes the importance of the race and educating the public on the seat of justice and how to analyze a candidate. LWVDC will host a webinar: Choosing a Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice on Feb. 6 from 6:30-8 p.m.
The league has assembled a panel of experts to take questions from the public, including: Robert Yablon law professor at UW Law School; Judge Paul Higginbotham; and Jeff Mandell general counsel of Law Forward. Attorney Marilyn Townsend will moderate.
Yablon will address the task of judging a Supreme Court candidate. Higginbotham’s topic will discuss the role campaign finance plays in the elections and Mandell will talk about what the 2025-2026 Wisconsin Supreme court docket will look like.
The event is free to the public. To register for the webinar, go to: https://bit.ly/40Rrs93.
About the Wisconsin Supreme Court
• The state’s highest court
• Wisconsin Supreme Court Justices serve 10 year terms
• The court consists of seven justices
• They are elected in April and take office in August
• The seat is non partisan
• There are no term limits
• They choose, among themselves, a chief justice every two years
• Justices decide what cases to review
To learn more about the race, visit 411.org.
Candidates for the Feb. 18 primary election have responded to questions from the League of Women Voters. Their unedited responses are now available to Dane County voters on the League website vote411.org, and in a Candidates’ Answers flipbook on https://www.lwvdanecounty.org/be-a-voter.
The League of Women Voters of Dane County is making this information available as voters begin to receive their absentee ballots, of which mailing began on Jan. 28. The League encourages voters to start their voting research before casting their ballot, so they can be informed and prepared voters.
Madison voters can vote early (in-person absentee voting) beginning Feb. 4, at City of Madison libraries and other locations across Madison. Voters in other Dane County municipalities should check myvote.wi.gov or their municipal clerk’s website to learn about local early voting locations, dates, and hours.
Voters can learn which candidates are on their ballot, find contact information for their municipal clerk, request or track their absentee ballot, or find their polling place at myvote.wi.gov. Voters can find candidate information for state, city and school board offices (though not for town and village offices) based on the voter’s address at vote411.org.
Those who do not find responses from a primary candidate may wish to contact that candidate to encourage them to respond to the questions on vote411.org.
The League website, lwvdanecounty.org, also has information about voting, voter photo ID and voter registration, in English and Spanish. Voters who have questions about voting may contact the nonpartisan Voter Helpline at 608-285-2141 to reach experienced volunteers who can offer assistance.
“We know thousands of Dane County voters use our resources to learn about candidates. That’s why we work hard to make them available as soon as absentee ballots are mailed” said Michelle Phillips, Communications Manager of the League of Women Voters of Dane County.