Liberal Justice Susan Crawford enters Wisconsin Supreme Court race with majority at stake

MADISON, Wis. – A liberal judge who previously represented Planned Parenthood in a case related to abortion access entered the Wisconsin Supreme Court race on Monday with a majority battlefield state control highest court in play.

Dane County Circuit Judge Susan Crawford Launched Her Campaign to Succeed retired liberal judge Ann Walsh Bradleyciting his past work for Planned Parenthood as the fight over Wisconsin’s abortion ban is being fought in court.

Crawford Joins Conservative Waukesha County Circuit Judge Brad Schimel, a former Republican attorney general who opposes abortion, as the only announced candidates. If more than two candidates participate in the race, a primary will take place on February 18. The winner of the April 1 elections will be elected to a 10-year term.

Crawford, in a statement, framed the race as a battle for ideological control of the court.

“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,” Crawford said. “We cannot risk this progress being reversed.”

Crawford promised to “protect the basic rights and freedoms of Wisconsinites under our Constitution,” which she said are threatened “by an all-out effort to politicize the court to push a right-wing agenda.”

Crawford also presented herself as tough on crime, highlighting her previous work as an assistant attorney general. Former liberal candidates who won elections to the court made similar arguments.

“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 most basic rights,” Crawford said.

Crawford’s campaign ad also took aim at Schimel, labeling him a “right-wing extremist” because of his support for enforcing Wisconsin’s 1849 abortion ban. two challenges to the 175-year-old state law are pending before the state Supreme Court.

Schimel did not immediately return a message seeking comment Monday.

The April 1 election will determine who replaces Bradley, who is part of the 4-3 liberal majority and is the court’s longest-serving justice. The election will also determine whether the Liberals maintain majority control until at least 2028, the next time a Liberal judge is elected.

Crawford was elected judge in 2018 and was re-elected to a second term in April. She began her career as a prosecutor in the state attorney general’s office and worked as chief legal counsel to former Democratic governor Jim Doyle. As a private attorney, she fought Republican laws that limited access to abortion, effectively ended collective bargaining for public employees, and required photo ID to vote.

Liberals take majority control of the Wisconsin Supreme Court in August 2023 thanks to Janet Protasiewicz’s victoryflipping the court after 15 years of conservative control.

The court has made several important rulings since then, including a December ruling that overturned Maps drawn by Republicans of the state’s legislative districts. Abortion was also a key issue in Protasiewicz’s race.