A conservative Wisconsin Supreme Court justice announced Friday that she will not seek reelection, opening up a competitive race for a seat on the court, which is currently under liberal control with a 4-3 majority.
Why It Matters
Justice Rebecca Bradley’s decision comes after conservatives lost the last two statewide Supreme Court elections by wide margins. The most recent race in April broke national spending records, with liberals winning despite the conservative candidate receiving major financial backing from billionaire Elon Musk.
What To Know
In her statement, Bradley warned about the direction of the court.
“For years I have warned that under the control of judicial activists, the court will make itself more powerful than the legislature, more powerful than the governor,” Bradley said. “That warning went unheeded, and Wisconsin has seen only the beginning of what an alarming shift from thoughtful, principled judicial service toward bitter partisanship, personal attacks, and political gamesmanship is that have no place in court.”
She added: “The conservative movement needs to take stock of its failures, identify the problem, and fix it. I will not seek reelection to the Wisconsin Supreme Court because I believe the best path for me to rebuild the conservative movement and fight for liberty is not as a minority member of the Court.”
Liberals have now won four of the last five court races, flipping the majority in 2023 after 15 years of conservative control. No matter the outcome in April, liberals will keep at least a 4-3 edge until 2028. If a liberal wins Bradley’s open seat, the margin will expand to 5-2.
The upcoming race is expected to draw national attention as the court prepares to rule on high-profile issues like abortion, redistricting, election laws, and collective bargaining.
Bradley has consistently been a strong conservative voice on the bench. The Associated Press noted her dissent in a July ruling that said an 1849 Wisconsin law did not amount to a full abortion ban. She also joined past conservative majorities in upholding a law that stripped most state workers of collective bargaining rights. That law is now facing a new challenge in state appeals court, which could eventually land before the Supreme Court’s liberal majority.
Wisconsin remains a key battleground state in national politics. After President Donald Trump lost the state to Joe Biden in the 2020 election, Bradley joined two other conservatives in voting to hear a case challenging the results. The case was dismissed in a 4-3 decision when conservative swing Justice Brian Hagedorn sided with the liberals.
Bradley also supported the conservative majority in a decision banning absentee ballot drop boxes, a ruling later overturned by the court.
What Happens Next
Liberal state appeals court judge Chris Taylor had already launched a campaign for Bradley’s seat before she announced her retirement.
