Liberal judge launches candidacy in race closely watched by Wisconsin Supreme Court

A court judge who represented a local Planned Parenthood affiliate announced Monday that she is launching a bid for a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court that will be up for grabs next year.

Dane County Circuit Court Judge Susan Crawford is vying for outgoing liberal Judge Ann Walsh Bradley’s seat on the state’s high court. Bradley announced in April that she would not seek re-election in 2025, which would leave the Wisconsin Supreme Court with a 6-6 partisan split.

“I am running for Supreme Court Justice to protect the basic rights and freedoms of Wisconsinites under our Constitution. These rights are threatened by an all-out effort to politicize the court to push a right-wing agenda – I believe Wisconsin deserves better,” Crawford said in a press release. shared by the media outlet Wispolitics.com.

“As a former prosecutor and judge, I know we need Supreme Court justices who understand what it takes to keep communities safe, who are impartial and fair, who use common sense, and who do not politicize the Constitution to undermine our best interests. basic rights,” she continued. “For the first time in years, we have a majority on the court focused on getting the facts right, following the law and protecting our constitutional rights. We cannot risk this progress being reversed.”

Crawford’s resume includes serving as an assistant attorney general at the Wisconsin Department of Justice, serving as chief legal counsel to the Governor of Wisconsin, and working at several state agencies. Crawford’s website also notes that she represented Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin when in private practice.

Although Wisconsin Supreme Court races are technically nonpartisan, judicial contests have become increasingly political. Liberal judge Janet Protasiewicz won a vacant seat on the state’s high court last year, notably by calling the state’s electoral maps “rigged” and expressing her support for abortion access.

That 2023 race marked the first time in 15 years that the Wisconsin Supreme Court maintained a liberal majority and generated tens of millions of dollars in spending.

Former state Attorney General Brad Schimel (R), now a district judge in Waukesha County, is also running for Bradley’s 2025 seat.

This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story