When political parties demand “contributions” from judges in exchange for support on retention elections, it undermines the purpose of these elections, JAS and Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts say in a letter to the editor of the Philadelphia Inquirer. For details, read Gavel Grab.
"These are distinctly frightening times-especially for those of us who believe judicial elections should be different from other elections and that it is important to maintain both the appearance and actuality of impartial justice."
Rick Hasen and Dahlia Lithwick
Rick Hasen and Dahlia Lithwick
2011 Judicial Elections News
A Wisconsin newspaper editorial is calling for state Supreme Court Justice David Prosser to step aside from hearing a case involving a law office that his campaign paid for legal help. For details, see Gavel Grab.
Voters ousted Las Vegas Municipal Judge George Assad on Tuesday, opting instead for a lesser-known candidate with less baggage.
The brother of one of the three new Iowa Supreme Court justices slammed the vote that threw three judges off the bench last year, and issued a warning for the court. Robert Waterman is the president-elect of the Iowa State Bar Association and brother of new justice Thomas Waterman.
On the heels of the hard-fought Wisconsin Supreme Court election, a national news wire has used research compiled by Justice at Stake and its partners to help spotlight anonymous spending in judicial elections. Read Gavel Grab for more.
Challenger JoAnne Kloppenburg has requested a government-paid recount after incumbent Justice David Prosser finished 7,316 votes ahead in Wisconsin’s hotly contested Supreme Court race. See details in Gavel Grab.
No matter who ultimately wins the most votes in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race, the entire state is the loser, a New York Times editorial warns. See Gavel Grab for more.
An editorial board in Wisconsin’s largest city, calling the 2011 election a "big-money political mud fest," has urged a switch to gubernatorial appointment of state Supreme Court justices. See Gavel Grab for details.
A former Wisconsin Supreme Court justice says the candidates in the 2011 election were "drowned out" by attack ads, and it’s time to change how Wisconsin justices are chosen. Check out Gavel Grab.
Newspaper editorial boards in at least three states denounced the highly politicized, big-spending Wisconsin Supreme Court election, calling it an example of how not to choose judges. See Gavel Grab for more.
Governor Walker was in Sheboygan and Manitowoc Thursday to talk about job creation. Both places drew protestors. It's been a dramatic beginning for Governor Walker, who has seen protests, recall campaigns, and his collective-bargaining law stalled in courts. The drama started when he introduced his budget repair bill just five...
In a shocking twist, a clerk in a conservative Wisconsin county announced Thursday that she had discovered a net gain of 7,582 votes for an embattled conservative Supreme Court justice, a total that would make him the winner of an election in which his challenger declared victory Wednesday. The election...
WAUKESHA, Wis. -- A conservative-leaning Wisconsin county is correcting its count and giving an unofficial 7,500-vote lead to the incumbent in the hotly contested state Supreme Court race seen as a referendum on Republican Gov. Scott Walker's divisive union rights law. Waukesha County Clerk Kathy Nickolaus said Thursday that the...
In a political bombshell, the clerk in a Republican stronghold released new vote totals adding a net total of 7,582 new votes in the tight state Supreme Court race to Justice David Prosser, swinging the race significantly in his favor. Waukesha County Clerk Kathy Nickolaus said Thursday that she failed...
DELAFIELD, Wis. - A contest for the Wisconsin Supreme Court that some voters viewed as a referendum on the state's Republican leaders and their cuts to collective bargaining remained locked in a virtual tie in the wee hours of Wednesday morning. Until emotions boiled over in the state capital weeks...
The mud-slinging, special-interest dominated 2011 battle for the Wisconsin Supreme Court represented the latest assault on the high court’s credibility, the Justice at Stake Campaign said today. See Gavel Grab for more.
Justice at Stake Campaign said today that the recent Wisconsin campaign is the latest damaging assault on the state Supreme Court's credibility.
MADISON, Wis. (Legal Newsline) - Although the official results are not in, it looks like Wisconsin Assistant Attorney General JoAnne Kloppenburg has taken the lead in the state's Supreme Court race. The race was too close to call early Wednesday morning. However, as of 11 a.m., with five precincts remaining,...
Special Interest TV Spending Sets Record in Wisconsin Non-Candidate Ads Outpace Those in 2008 Butler-Gableman Race APRIL 5, 2011—Special interest groups have spent more than $3.5 million on TV ads in this year’s Wisconsin Supreme Court election, breaking the state’s previous record for television spending by...
Special interest groups have sought to buy justice in Wisconsin's Supreme Court election, a national newspaper editorial warned. It added, "When politics corrupts justice, no one can expect a fair shake in court." See Gavel Grab for more.
On Tuesday, voters across Wisconsin will elect a state Supreme Court justice. Incumbent David Prosser and challenger JoAnne Kloppenburg are vying for a ten-year term on the bench. Perhaps you’ve noticed the barrage of ads in recent days, as special interest groups scramble to influence the vote. As WUWM’s Marti...
Special interest groups have had the loudest voice in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race, spending $2,377,100 by Friday. For more, see Gavel Grab.
A series of controversial Supreme Court political ads have reignited debate over ethics in political advertising. The initial ad, from the Greater Wisconsin Community group, criticizes Justice David Prosser for not prosecuting a Catholic priest, the Rev. John Patrick Feeney, for the suspected sexual abuse of 12-year-old Troy and 14-year-old...
A hand-painted sign highlighting Wisconsin’s April 5 state Supreme Court election declares: “This May Be the Most Important Vote You Ever Cast.” That’s a bold claim. But it won’t be dismissed by many observers of the six-week long struggle between Governor Scott Walker and the public-employee unions he seeks to...
Three weeks ago, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker signed a bill restricting the power of public-employee unions and increasing what their members pay for health and pension benefits. But the law hasn't yet taken effect—and its opponents have found a judge to issue a highly questionable ruling threatening sanctions against any...
