Another State Supreme Court race shapes up as Abrahamson says she’ll run again

Talk about it

State Supreme Court Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson says she’ll run for re-election next year.

She says the court still has a great reputation for being fair and impartial, despite the nasty partisan campaign in which Justice Louis Butler was defeated on Tuesday.

That’s got some people suggesting that future justices be appointed instead of elected, but Abrahamson is against that.

She says democracy can get messy but it’s still the best form of government.

Last year, all seven justices called for more public funding of Supreme Court races, to dilute the impact of special interests.

The State Senate approved it, but it died in the Assembly.

Abrahamson, 74, has been on the Supreme Court for 32 years, and the chief justice for the last 12.

No one is running against her yet but she has had three challengers in the past.

The Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce group is already painting Abrahamson as an activist.

The group says conservatives have won the last four contested Supreme Court elections, and when given a choice between a liberal and a traditionalist judge, voters will choose the traditionalist.

Tags: wisconsinnews, chiefjustice, shirleyabrahamson, reelection