Do you know who to vote for in the April 2 election?
On Tuesday, April 2, voters have an important chance to choose our next Wisconsin Supreme Court Judge (called a "Justice"). The two candidates are already appellate court judges: Judge Lisa Neubauer and Judge Brian Hagedorn. The winner will serve for 10 years—the longest term of any elected official in Wisconsin.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has a lot of power. The most important part of its job is to decide what Wisconsin laws and the Wisconsin Constitution mean. Wisconsin Supreme Court Justices make decisions that affect the civil rights and liberties of everyone who lives in Wisconsin, on issues like voting rights, privacy rights, police practices and criminal justice, reproductive rights, and many more. Wisconsin Supreme Court Justices can strike down state laws they find to be unconstitutional, and they decide whether or not local judges made the right decisions in many kinds of cases.
Because the Justices on the Court come with different perspectives, the Justices often have different ideas about what the constitution and laws mean. That's why your vote for which judge should be on the Supreme Court can make a difference.
Commit to vote for Wisconsin's next Supreme Court justice
Key Information on the Civil Liberties Record and Issue Positions of Candidates Lisa Neubauer and Brian Hagedorn
The ACLU sent a multi-issue questionnaire about a broad range of civil liberties issues to both candidates. Judge Hagedorn did not respond. Judge Neubauer responded to most of our questions as follows: “As a sitting judge and candidate, I cannot take a position on issues or legislation that may come before the court.” That said, as reflected below, Judge Neubauer did provide thoughts on issues relating to criminal justice reform.
Wisconsin Supreme Court Candidates Scorecard
Issues | Lisa NeubauerChief Judge of Wisconsin Court of Appeals District 2 | Brian HagedornWisconsin Court of Appeals Judge District 2 |
Reproductive Freedom |
|
|
LGBT Rights |
|
|
Criminal Justice Reform |
|
|
1 “If Roe is overturned...,” Wisconsin Badger Blog Alliance, July 17, 2015
2 “Bice: Supreme Court candidate once wrote that gay rights ruling could lead to legalized bestiality,” Journal Sentinel, Feb. 1, 2019, https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/investigations/daniel-bice/2019/01/31/wisconsin-supreme-court-candidate-once-tied-gay-rights-bestiality/2699726002/
3 “Bice: Supreme Court candidate once wrote that gay rights ruling could lead to legalized bestiality,” Journal Sentinel, Feb. 1, 20 http://badgerblogalliance.blogspot.com/2005/07/if-roe-is-overturned.html19, https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/investigations/daniel-bice/2019/01/31/wisconsin-supreme-court-candidate-once-tied-gay-rights-bestiality/2699726002/
4 Notice of Withdrawal for Summary Judgment Motion, Appling v. Doyle, 5/13/2011
5 “Bice: Supreme Court candidate once wrote that gay rights ruling could lead to legalized bestiality,” Journal Sentinel, Feb. 1, 2019, https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/investigations/daniel-bice/2019/01/31/wisconsin-supreme-court-candidate-once-tied-gay-rights-bestiality/2699726002/
6 “Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate helped found academy that bans LGBT teachers, students,” Wisconsin State Journal, Feb. 15, 2019, https://madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/wisconsin-supreme-court-candidate-helped-found-academy-that-bans-lgbt/article_99a6c71e-104c-5d28-a98d-afe5342843ad.htm
7 “Huge stakes, little difference on crime,” Isthmus, Jan. 30, 2019, https://isthmus.com/news/news/supreme-court-contenders-both-routinely-rule-against-the-convicted/
8 “Huge stakes, little difference on crime,” Isthmus, Jan. 30, 2019, https://isthmus.com/news/news/supreme-court-contenders-both-routinely-rule-against-the-convicted/
9 State v Vesper, 2018 WI App 31
10 ACLU-WI Questionnaire Responses
11 “Huge stakes, little difference on crime,” Isthmus, Jan. 30, 2019, https://isthmus.com/news/news/supreme-court-contenders-both-routinely-rule-against-the-convicted/
12 “Huge stakes, little difference on crime,” Isthmus, Jan. 30, 2019, https://isthmus.com/news/news/supreme-court-contenders-both-routinely-rule-against-the-convicted/
13 State v Vesper, 2018 WI App 31