Issue of Gerrymandering
On Nov. 21, 2023
Law Forward – with co-counsels Stafford Rosenbaum, the Election Law Clinic at Harvard Law School, Campaign Legal Center, and Arnold & Porter – argued in front of the Wisconsin State Supreme Court challenging the extreme partisan gerrymandering of Wisconsin’s legislative maps.
Read all Court filings here: Rebecca Clarke v. Wisconsin Elections Commission Appeal Number 2023AP001399 - OA Watch the oral arguments here: https://wiseye.org/2023/11/21/wisconsin-supreme-court-rebecca-clarke-v-wisconsin-elections-commission/
Note: “In a bombshell 4-3 ruling, the state Supreme Court on Friday declared Wisconsin's legislative districts unconstitutional — ordering new maps to be drawn ahead of the 2024 elections. The impact of the ruling could mean big changes for the state Legislature. “
Source: Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
Issue of School Vouchers On Wednesday, December 13, the Wisconsin Supreme Court rejected hearing a lawsuit seeking to end the school voucher program. The lawsuit will be filed in a lower court and can still make it’s way to the Wisconsin Supreme Court through the appeals process. Read articles on this topic here: Wisconsin Supreme Court refuses to hear lawsuit challenging voucher school program | Wisconsin Public Radio (wpr.org) Wisconsin Supreme Court refuses to hear lawsuit challenging voucher school program (msn.com)
Election of New Justice in 2025
The 2025 Wisconsin Supreme Court election is scheduled for Tuesday, April 1, 2025, to elect a justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court for a ten-year term. Incumbent justice Ann Walsh Bradley has indicated she will seek a fourth ten-year term. If more than two candidates file to run for this seat, a nonpartisan primary election will be held February 18, 2025, with the top two vote-getters advancing to the April 1 general election. The filing deadline to appear on the ballot in the 2025 election is January 1, 2025.
As of December 1, 2023, former Attorney General Brad Schimel is running against incumbent Justice Ann Walsh Bradley in the April 2025 election. Other conservatives are also considering entering the race. Read about the election here: Brad Schimel campaign signals hot 2025 Wisconsin Supreme Court race | Government | captimes.com
New Year’s Greetings from Maggie, AAUW State President Wishing all of our AAUW members and friends a happy New Year 2024, with much Joy, Good Health, and Meaningful Experiences in the coming year. Personally, I do wish for peaceful and diplomatic resolutions to the terrible wars and conflicts in the Ukraine, Gaza, and in 40 other countries worldwide. The conflicts, destruction, and loss of life breaks my heart. In addition to world events, many of us are mourning the loss of dear family and friends, as well as favorite entertainers and other celebrities. However, the most touching losses for me this past year were of two special icons who represent values we hold dear: Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, and Senator Herb Kohl. They both were advocates for equal justice, women’s rights, and universal quality education. Much has been written about Justice O’Connor, a brilliant and well thought of Supreme Court Justice, who paved the way for other women to sit on the nations highest court. We were all moved and saddened by her death, and grateful for her service and all she accomplished. However the death of Senator Kohl affected me more personally. I first heard about him in the 1970’s when my husband and I lived in a duplex in Milwaukee. The downstairs neighbor was a cashier at a Kohls grocery store in the area. She would tell us how the owner, Mr. Kohl, would visit each and every one of his grocery stores, and greet every employee on a regular basis. He always had a kind word, and would ask after their families. My next encounter with Senator Kohl came in the early 1990’s, when my school district nominated me for the prestigious Herb Kohl Award for excellence in teaching. As I was one of the recipients, I remember attending a dinner with the other teachers, and hearing Senator Kohl thank us for our work. My husband and I sat at a table with one of Senator Kohl’s assistants who shared that the Senator was very surprised and actually dismayed at the celebrity status that he received in Washington, D.C. After all, he went there to do good for our country, not to be given status and opportunities that his constituency wouldn’t share. That impressed me. The Kohl Award included $1000 for each recipient, and an additional $1000 for each of our schools. While the money would not be life changing for me, it was life affirming that someone so high in government would recognize and appreciate the work of an ordinary kindergarten teacher, which really meant that he recognized all teachers. Each year since then, I have received a holiday greeting card from the Senator, until this year. It was such an honor to be on his holiday greeting list, even though I never donated to his election campaigns. Senator Kohl gave back to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and to our nation year after year, quietly and without fanfare. We need more leaders like him. Today I honor Justice O’Connor and Senator Kohl for their vision and quiet, consistent work toward a strong democracy, for good governance, equal justice, women’s rights, and strong public education. My wish for 2024 is for us all to honor their legacy with our own quiet, consistent works and acts of inclusion, kindness and bravery. Let’s start the new year together with inspiration and hope for the future.
With my fondest regards,
Maggie
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