Wisconsin Supreme Court Race in the Wall Street Journal
Posted by The Asian Badger on March 24, 2008
The Wall Street Journal had an editorial today about the Supreme Court race in Wisconsin.
When Wisconsin voters go to the polls this April Fool’s day, the state Supreme Court may realize the joke’s on them. After four years of judicial activism, one of the court’s most liberal members, Justice Louis Butler, is up for re-election — and voters get to send a message about what they expect from their judges.
The last time Badger State voters had a chance to vote on Justice Butler, in 2000, the then-Milwaukee County Municipal Judge lost by nearly 2-1 to then-state Supreme Court Justice Diane Sykes. But when a seat opened up on the high court in 2004 with the elevation of Justice Sykes to the federal Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, Democratic Governor Jim Doyle appointed Judge Butler to the slot.
Liberals suddenly enjoyed a 5-4 majority on the court, and it swung sharply to the left. The court systematically dismantled the state’s tort reform laws, eliminating caps on noneconomic damages in medical malpractice rulings. In another case, the court made Wisconsin the only state to accept “collective liability” for manufacturers in cases involving lead paint. Whether a company actually produced the paint became irrelevant to guilt or innocence.
Go and read the entire editorial and see why Butler MUST be defeated for Wisconsin to prosper.
Meg Smitwick said
This editorial was clearly written as an April Fools joke. Anyone who reads it can’t possibly ignore the selective choice of facts and deliberate ignorance of Wisconsin law shown here. Former Congressman Mark Green’s college roommate (this is literally true) who wrote this must still be upset about his old buddy’s humiliating defeat last year. He needs to get over it and pay more attention to the melting down of all Wall Street.
The Asian Badger said
Frankly, your reply is an April Fool’s joke written by a fool.
Sarah Crabtree said
Thanks for posting – the WSJ article is really good and this is an important issue.
For more facts about the case, you can visit Judgepedia.com.
jedswartz said
Thanks for bringing it to our attention that Butler was previously rejected 2 to 1. I’m not sure how I’ve missed that this long.
Gary Wickert said
There are only seven justices on the Wisconsin Supreme Court.