The Spring Election is April 4, 2023

Wisconsin's State Supreme Court is highly contested and with the court split 3-3 (progressive vs. conservative), who we elect this Spring could determine the ideological leaning of the Court for the next 10 years. The Wisconsin State Supreme Court is the state's highest court and the final court of appeals on cases that began in the state court system (cases involving federal laws can be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. They are responsible for determining if laws violate the Wisconsin Constitution and establishes and enforced procedural rules and codes of conduct for Wisconsin attorneys, judges and justices. 

The two candidates running against each other are Milwaukee County Judge Janet Protasiewicz is a veteran prosecutor, victim advocate and has spent over a decade on the Circuit Court. Her goal is to protect constitutional rights from attacks by right-wing extremists and Former Supreme Court Judge Daniel Kelly was appointed to the Court by then-Gov. Walker but lost the seat in the 2020 election. Kelly voted consistently with the Conservatives and now works at a conservative think tank in Delafield.

Here are some facts about Justices:

• Justices are chosen in nonpartisan statewide elections to serve for ten-year terms. There are no term limits for justices
• Justices are elected in April and take office the following August 1
• The justices elect one of themselves to be the Chief Justice (administrative head of the court system) every two years
• The justices decide which cases to review. They do not agree to hear every case brought to them

The State Supreme Court takes on cases with issues that impact many people in Wisconsin. Their rulings decide:

• Voting rights
• Women's rights
• Economic development
• Labor rights
• Mass incarceration

Racine will also have a mayoral race with incumbent Mayor Cory Mason and Henry Perez and Michael Schrader is a Registered Write-In Candidate.