Wisconsin Supreme Court

AG Kaul Releases Statement on Wisconsin Supreme Court Ballot Decision

September 14, 2020

State High Court Ruling Forces Printers to Stop the Presses

Supreme Court wants to consider Green Party challenge to stay on ballot, delay could cause costly confusion.

Local Health Officials Stripped of Power?

State Supreme Court’s Dane County ruling could threaten longstanding power of all local health officials, expert believes.

Wisconsin Judge Denies Kanye West’s Bid to be on Presidential Ballot

His campaign could still appeal to the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

WI Supreme Court Could Delay Absentee Ballots

The court paused mailing to hear a suit to get the Green Party on the ballot.

Wisconsin Supreme Court Agrees to Hear WILL Challenge to Dane County School Closure Order

Court issues temporary injunction allowing schools to open immediately

Gov. Evers, WisDOT, DOA Announce $18 Million in Public Transit Grants for Wisconsin Communities

Grants will enable Beloit, Wausau, Sheboygan, Madison, Eau Claire, Racine, Green Bay, and La Crosse to purchase a total of 34 public transit buses

Health Commissioner Says She Faced Racism, Sexism

"A constant power struggle from Day One," says outgoing commissioner Jeanette Kowalik.

The Battle Over Face Masks

The limits of persuasion in a polarized state. Can science save lives and prevent threats?

How Republicans Embrace COVID-19

The data shows a strange alliance; how the GOP helps a deadly virus spread.

AG Kaul Supports Dane County COVID-19 Emergency Order with Amicus Briefs

August 28, 2020

Senator Larson Statement: The Human Cost of Obstruction

WILL Asks Wisconsin Supreme Court to Invalidate Dane County School Closure Order

Original action on behalf of affected parents, private schools, and school associations

Gov. Evers Appoints Nia Trammell and David Conway to the Dane County Circuit Court

Lawsuit Challenges Evers Mask Mandate

Conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty challenges governor's emergency health order.

Special Interest Contributions Skyrocket

$5.2 million spent in state for first six months of 2020, more than double the same period in 2016.

UW-System Competed With Feds for COVID-19 Tests

Thompson said federal government tried to take their order of testing machines.

State Supreme Court Is Radically Activist

Record shows many examples of grabbing cases before lower courts rule.

Johnson’s Attacks on Unemployment Aid Lack Evidence

The pandemic, not unemployment insurance, is keeping people out of work.

GOP Hasn’t Interfered With Mask Mandate

They've criticized it, but for now they've left it alone.

City Poised for Record Turnout in Primary

More absentee ballots requested than the total vote in any fall primary in two decades.

Abrahamson’s Remarkable Legacy Honored

State’s longest serving justice, longest serving chief justice, a trailblazer for women jurists.

Shirley Abrahamson Honored by Historical Society

Evers ordered the society's reading room to be named for the former Chief Justice.

WisDems and Arena, in Partnership with the DNCC and BFP, Announce Free, All-Virtual Campaign Academy

Campaign Academy 2020 will provide free electoral training to thousands during Democratic National Convention

A Mask Mandate is Not Enough

It's a step in the right direction, but not enough to suppress the virus.

Health Departments Can Enforce State Mask-Mandate

Despite some Sheriffs' opposition, Evers administration says it can be enforced.

Will Karofsky Rebalance the WI Supreme Court?

The conservative majority on the court has been reduced to one vote.

Gov. Evers Signs Executive Order Honoring the Career and Legacy of Chief Justice Abrahamson

Wisconsin Historical Society Library Reading Room to be named in honor of Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson

Jill Karofsky Sworn Into Wisconsin Supreme Court

She was sworn in after running 35 miles of a 100-mile ultramarathon.

Vos Thinks Lame-Duck Session Didn’t Go Far Enough

The speaker would like to strip more power from Evers.

Evers Should Re-Order All Restrictions

Not just a mask mandate. Put the Supreme Court on the hot seat.

Dictator Evers’ Mask Decree

Evers Issues Statewide Mask Mandate

Order goes into effect August 1st.

Karofsky Swearing In During 100-Mile Run

New Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice will take oath 35 miles into a 100-mile ultramarathon.

Legislature Hasn’t Met in 100 Days

No action since April 15 on pandemic, police reform, budget shortfalls.

Palzewicz and Democrats Have Plan for Pandemic

Why Evers Must Take Action

Data shows state is losing the battle against COVID-19. He must reissue an emergency order.

Court Rulings Against Evers Sow Confusion

Supreme Court overrules vetoes and health orders with vague language offering no guidance.

What Should Next Pandemic Aid Bill Include?

State’s Democrats, Republicans disagree on who needs federal help and how much is needed.

State Supreme Court Race Cost $10 Million

Shatters spending record; 51% by Karofsky and outside groups supporting her in April election.

Why Wisconsin, U.S. Failed Against COVID-19

Conservative network, including key state operatives, quietly fought solutions other advanced countries pursued.

League of Women Voters of Wisconsin Files Brief to Protect Registered Voters from Polling List Purge

Wisconsin’s Wealth Gap Grows Worse

Pandemic devastates lower and middle class while billionaires get wealthier.

How Many Police Live Where They Work?

In Milwaukee, it's about half, in some places it's far less.

WI Supreme Court Nullifies Three of Evers’ Vetoes

Conservative majority tosses out decades of precedent on the governor's vetoes.

Gov. Evers Releases Statement on Wisconsin Supreme Court Ruling

Wisconsin Supreme Court: Three of Governor Evers’ Budget Vetoes Unconstitutional

Court strikes down 3 of 4 budget vetoes in WILL original action

WI Supreme Court Upholds GOP Lame-Duck Laws

For second time, the state's high court rules in favor of laws stripping some of governor's powers.

Gov. Evers Announces People’s Maps Commission Application and Selection Processes 

“People should get to choose their elected officials, not the other way around”

Gov. Evers Releases Statement on State Supreme Court’s Ruling on Lame Duck

Lame Duck Supreme Court Upholds Lame Duck GOP Power Grab

Fitzgerald Reacts to Wisconsin Supreme Court Decision in SEIU vs. Vos

AG Kaul Statement on Wisconsin Supreme Court Ruling on SEIU v. Vos

The War Against Masks

It’s the most cost effective way to slow the pandemic. So why such opposition?

Loudenslager for Wisconsin Court of Appeals Press Release

State High Court Narrows Chance of Voter Purge

Rejects conservative group’s call for quick decision, delays oral arguments until 34 days before November election.

Republicans Flip-Flop on Local Control

First demanded local control of COVID-19 rules, now oppose county restrictions.

Fighting to Make Voting Easier

Increasing absentee ballots will be good for democracy.

Pandemic Reduced Black Vote, Study Finds

Study finds lack of polling places, fear of COVID-19 reduced April turnout of Black city voters by nearly 10%.

State Tribes Are Reopening Casinos

After big losses in revenue, many reopening with emphasis on social distancing, requiring masks.

Did High Court Order Hike State’s COVID Cases?

They’re definitely up since state Supreme Court ruling, and a faster rate than the nation.

Voter Purge Push Threatens 129,000 Names

State Supreme Court will consider approach critics decry as voter suppression.

Portrait of a Spitting Shorewood Attorney

Stephanie Rapkin can handle all kinds of trusts, and claims an affiliation with UWM and Marquette.

AG Kaul Statement on Favorable Unanimous Wisconsin Supreme Court Decision in Quick Charge v. Kaul

Evers’ Office Secretly Recorded Meeting with GOP Leaders

The call was a debate between leaders over the 'Safer-At-Home' order after it was struck down.

Gov. Evers Appoints State Representative Chris Taylor to Dane County Circuit Court

Can the Police Union Prevent Reform?

Milwaukee’s powerful union has long gotten its way. But this time may be different.

Police Groups Have Big Capitol Clout

They spent $2.3 million on state lobbying and elections over 10 years, pushing many bills they favor.

Jensen Tries to Pre-Rig Redistricting

To maintain gerrymandering, neutralize governor, wants to give state Supreme Court the whip hand.

State Has Third Least Restrictive Pandemic Rules

Only South and North Dakota are less restrictive, study finds.

“Shorewood Spitter” Taken To Jail After Second Incident

Attorney Stephanie Rapkin is accused of spitting on teenager, shoving college student and kneeing police officer in groin.

Attorney General Kaul Unfairly Hurts Farmers & Food Processors as COVID-19 Crisis Continues

WILL Wants WI Supreme Court to Take Redistricting Cases First

Conservative group wants state supreme court to handle redistricting disputes.

Lessons from the Spring 2020 Election

Republicans opposed liberals and alleged voter fraud and neither issue resonated.

Dan Kelly Wants Revenge

He recused from voter purge case. After losing election the lame duck Supreme Court Justice has changed his mind.

State High Court to Hear Voter Purge Case

Kelly ends recusal, Supreme Court will decide if 130,000 people should be removed from voting rolls.

Milwaukee Maintaining Its Health Order At Least One More Week

Dashboard shows Milwaukee has actually regressed in fighting COVID-19.

Eviction Ban Lifted, Here’s What Renters Should Know

Moratorium on evictions was suspended Tuesday, many landlords rushed to start evictions.

Circuit Courts Planning For Re-Opening

Many in-person proceedings have been suspended since March.

WI Supreme Court Dismisses Second ‘Safer At Home’ Suit

Ruling leaves local stay-at-home orders in place.

Justice Hagedorn Surprises Observers

Supreme Court justice seems like a true conservative, not a right-wing activist.

Report Predicts Second COVID-19 Surge in State

Virus reproducing faster in Wisconsin than all but nine states, British study finds.

Evers Promises Three New UW Regents

“Extremely unusual” for board members with expired terms to stay on and continue voting.

Staycations More Likely on Memorial Day?

State destinations like Door County, Wisconsin Dells not sure what to expect.

Will Silk Disobey City, Open Strip Clubs?

Company plans to open three strip clubs on May 29th, which would violate city order.

How State Reopening is Affecting PFAS Testing

DNR now navigating various local orders.

Pandemic Exposes Caregiver Shortage

Care for elderly and disabled was already hard to find, the pandemic made it worse.

Statewide COVID-19 Hospitalizations Up 16 Percent, 30 Percent in Milwaukee County

New testing record set each of the past three days.

Wear A Mask, Public Heath Officials Say

Now that Evers' Safer-At-Home has ended, health officials plead with the public to take precautions on their own.

Federal Lawsuit Challenges Local “Safer at Home” Orders

Two plaintiffs are Republican candidates for office, another is a Milwaukee pastor.

Milwaukee Releases Five Criteria To Open Up

Barrett and Kowalik have phased plan to reopen city. Revised order allows gyms to open.

What Comes Next in the Fight Against the Coronavirus?

Will individual choices be enough to keep a spike in cases and deaths at bay?

Is Wisconsin a ‘Failed State’?

The Guardian questions if state can perform its core job, "protecting people’s basic security.”

Bars and Restaurants Can Open Friday in Milwaukee County Suburbs

In-person patronage still prohibited in the City of Milwaukee.

Legislature Should ‘Step Up’ Barnes Says

Take action to protect our health, end patchwork of pandemic rules, Lieutenant Governor urges.

Illinois Patrons Flock to State’s Bars, Restaurants

Kenosha County, where COVID-19 cases rising, gets in-flow from northern Illinois.

Lawsuit Demands State Mail Ballots to Voters

Activist groups say April election excluded voters, demand mailed ballots to all this fall.

Evers Wants 270-Day Shutdown! Nope

Republicans, talk radio spread rumor of nine-month shutdown. Governor calls it "a lie."

Why Vos, Fitzgerald Refused to Lead

They took away Gov. Evers’ power to oversee pandemic and then did nothing. Why?

No New State Pandemic Rules Likely

Evers and legislative leaders can’t agree. And even if they did it would take weeks to create.