On the ballot in the spring 2015 election is a proposal to
amend the state constitution. The amendment would allow a majority of Supreme Court justices to
elect the chief justice, who would serve a 2-year term.
Currently, the chief justice is the justice who has served
the longest consecutive term on the court.
A “yes” vote means you vote to allow the majority of
justices to elect the chief justice for a 2-year term.
A “no” vote means that you vote to keep the current system, so that the longest-serving justice will be
the chief justice.
Opponents of the proposed change point out that the current
system, which gives the role of chief justice to the most senior court member,
is more democratic because it allows the justice who has been elected most
times by the voters to serve as chief justice.
Opponents of the amendment also see it as an attack on the
current chief justice, Shirley Abrahamson, who is more liberal than most of the
rest of the justices, and as an attempt to consolidate further the power of
Walker and his Republican allies. The
amendment would push aside the role of experience and give more power to a
single group of justices who all have the same political outlook
The ballot will also include a race for a Supreme Court
justice position. Many bi-partisan
groups have endorsed Ann Walsh Bradley, partly on the basis that the position
is non-partisan and Bradley does not accept donations from political
parties. Her opponent, however, has accepted
contributions from the Republican Party. Her opponent is also on record as stating that
he does not believe justices should have to recuse themselves from hearing
cases that involve individuals or groups from whom the justices have received political
contributions.
The spring election is Tuesday, April 7. Please remember to vote.
