Opinion: New justice must protect Wisconsinites’ rights

The April 1st Wisconsin Supreme Court Election will determine the future of the state.

As the federal government continues its all-out assault on civil rights – and as power-hungry billionaires attempt to seize even more control over our lives – we need state courts that uphold the Constitution and safeguard the rights of everyone. No matter what’s happening in Washington, we have the power to determine our future right here in Wisconsin. 

Due to the 1849 abortion law, abortion rights are just one of the civil liberties on the line as the new Wisconsin Supreme Court justice takes the bench. We’ve seen what happens when other states what happens when abortion access is restricted: we see increased maternal mortality rates, sepsis, and more. Is that what we want for Wisconsin? 

State Supreme Courts are often the last line of defense for our rights – and this spring, voters will be tasked with electing our next justice. Wisconsin Supreme Court Justices are responsible for interpreting the state constitution and applying state laws. Because so many decisions depend on this interpretation, the Court has the power to make final rulings that impact our civil rights and civil liberties and often recognize broader protections than those provided by the US Constitution, serving as a crucial defense against attacks on our fundamental rights. 

Now that the US Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade, state courts have become the ultimate decision-makers on whether reproductive freedoms are safeguarded. With ongoing legal battles over Wisconsin’s abortion ban, the state Supreme Court could determine the future of abortion access for millions. The candidate who prevails in April will be responsible for adjudicating some of the most contested constitutional questions of our time. 

In the 2024 term – which followed our last Supreme Court election in 2023, one that shifted the balance of power on the Court for the first time in 15 years – justices issued landmark decisions that strengthened democracy and altered the political landscape in our state. They struck down Wisconsin’s famously hyper-partisan legislative districts – which were deliberately drawn to lock in incumbent power at the expense of voters – and set the stage for the passage of fairer, more representative maps in 2024. 

In another case, the Court reinstated the use of ballot drop boxes in Wisconsin, allowing municipalities to offer voters an accessible and secure option to cast their vote. And in the next term, crucial questions about reproductive freedom, democracy, executive power, and labor rights may find their way to the high court.

Wisconsin should be a state governed by the people for the people, and not at the behest of wealthy or corporate interests. This spring, voters should consider a state Supreme Court justice who believes in these fundamental principles.

Wisconsin voters shattered records for turnout in the 2023 Supreme Court election. This year’s race carries equally high stakes, and we encourage every eligible voter to plan to vote by April 1. Our rights are only as good as those responsible for defending them, so let’s do what we can to preserve our freedoms by casting an informed ballot for the justice who will sit on Wisconsin’s most powerful court for the coming decade.