Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman announced last week that he will not seek reelection to the state’s highest court. His seat is up in April 2018. Former Michael Best attorney Michael Screnock, now a sitting Sauk County Circuit Court judge, announced that he will run for the Gableman spot. Gov. Scott Walker appointed Screnock […]
Wisconsin Supreme Court Rejects Recusal Petition
Date Fri, Apr. 28, 2017 - 9:40am By Hamilton
Last week, the Wisconsin Supreme Court rejected a petition to change its recusal rules. The proposal, submitted in January by 54 retired judges and justices, would have required judges and justices to recuse themselves if they received donations past a certain contribution threshold from litigants or attorneys in a case. Under the petition, the threshold […]
Republicans to Hire Outside Counsel to Defend Redistricting Map
Date Fri, Feb. 3, 2017 - 10:24am By Hamilton
On Feb. 2, the leadership committees in both the Wisconsin Senate and Assembly approved the hiring of an outside law firm to file a friend-of-the-court brief in defense of their redistricting map. The redistricting plan, enacted as 2011 Wis. Act 43, was struck down by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin. In their 159-page […]
Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Ziegler Will Run Unopposed
Date Thu, Jan. 12, 2017 - 4:38pm By Hamilton
Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Annette Ziegler will run unopposed in the April general election. No one stepped up to challenge Ziegler by the early January filing deadline, making her the first Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate in over 10 years to run unopposed. Ziegler’s unopposed run for her second term as Justice will preserve a 5-2 […]
Supreme Court Justice Annette Ziegler Announces “Likely” Run for Second Term
Date Sun, Sep. 25, 2016 - 8:47pm By Hamilton
Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Annette Ziegler announced she will “likely” run for re-election in April 2017. The conservative justice already claims endorsements of 48 sheriffs and 30 district attorneys. Among others, her steering committee will include former Gov. Tommy Thompson, former Lt. Gov. Margaret Farrow, and former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice John Wilcox. Her Sept. […]
Walker Appoints Daniel Kelly to Wisconsin Supreme Court
Date Wed, Jul. 27, 2016 - 2:17pm By Hamilton
On Friday, July 22, Gov. Walker appointed attorney Daniel Kelly to the Wisconsin Supreme Court to replace retiring Justice David Prosser. Gov. Walker selected Kelly over the two other finalists, appeals court judges Thomas Hruz and Mark Gundrum. Kelly is a founding partner and commercial litigator at the Milwaukee law firm Rogahn Kelly. Before starting […]
Supreme Court Finalists Narrowed to Three
Date Thu, Jul. 7, 2016 - 3:30pm By Hamilton
After the second round of interviews in late June, Gov. Scott Walker announced the final three contenders for the Supreme Court appointment. The three finalists include: Appeals Court judges Mark Gundrum, Thomas Hruz and attorney Daniel Kelly. Judge Mark Gundrum was appointed by Walker in 2011 to the Wisconsin District II Court of Appeals. Prior […]
Applicant Field for Supreme Court Vacancy Narrowed
Date Thu, Jun. 16, 2016 - 4:29pm By Hamilton
Gov. Scott Walker narrowed the field of Supreme Court applicants from 11 to five after the first round of interviews took place on June 13. The five finalists include: Appeals Court judges Mark Gundrum and Thomas Hruz, Jefferson County Judge Randy Koschnick, Marinette County Judge James Morrison, and attorney Daniel Kelly. Milwaukee area attorney Daniel […]
AG Opinion Validates Act 21 Limits on Agency Authority
Date Fri, May. 27, 2016 - 10:21am By Hamilton
On May 10, 2016, Attorney General Brad Schimel issued a formal opinion finding that 2011 WI Act 21 requires explicit delegation of authorities to agencies, making it clear that regulatory mandates may no longer arise from implied authority. Whether enacting rules, imposing permit conditions, or exercising public trust authority, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) […]
Supreme Court Upholds Independence of State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Date Fri, May. 27, 2016 - 10:19am By Hamilton
In a split opinion, the Wisconsin Supreme Court upheld lower court decisions that 2011 Wisconsin Act 21 (Act 21) is unconstitutional as applied to the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) and the Department of Public Instruction (DPI). Act 21 amended various provisions in the statutes that set forth procedures agencies must follow when promulgating administrative […]