# Wisconsin Supreme Court Election - hugely important election happening now **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [April 4, 2023, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wisconsin-supreme-court-election-hugely-important-election-happening-now/982158 "2023-04-04T22:09:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2023, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wisconsin-supreme-court-election-hugely-important-election-happening-now/982158/41 "2023-04-05T14:41:14Z")
They’ll claim “legislating from the bench” or something. Brian ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2023, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wisconsin-supreme-court-election-hugely-important-election-happening-now/982158/42 "2023-04-05T14:42:36Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > But don’t they have to at least _allege_ something in addition to that? Impeachment is an inherently politicial process, not a legal one. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2023, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wisconsin-supreme-court-election-hugely-important-election-happening-now/982158/43 "2023-04-05T14:44:02Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Impeachment is an inherently politicial process, not a legal one . Sure, but _ **politically** _, (and morally) don’t they need some cover? ETA: I guess I’m asking if the entire Wisconsin Republican party is a lost cause? ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2023, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wisconsin-supreme-court-election-hugely-important-election-happening-now/982158/44 "2023-04-05T14:48:23Z")
They may well feel they have no choice but to impeach her. If she remains, the gerrymandered districts may be tossed and they may have to face the prospect of losing the majority and never getting it back. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2023, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wisconsin-supreme-court-election-hugely-important-election-happening-now/982158/45 "2023-04-05T14:48:28Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Sure, but _ **politically** _, (and morally) don’t they need some cover? Fair enough, there will certainly be some charges, however vague or broad. I don’t think the specifics really matter. > [@Procrustus](#): > > ETA: I guess I’m asking if the entire Wisconsin Republican party is a lost cause? Read some of the quotes from Republicans responding to this election. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2023, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wisconsin-supreme-court-election-hugely-important-election-happening-now/982158/46 "2023-04-05T15:00:40Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I guess I’m asking if the entire Wisconsin Republican party is a lost cause? The entire ~~Wisconsin~~ Republican party is a lost cause. ---
**Author:** ![Chingon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chingon/32/17645_2.png) [@Chingon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chingon)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2023, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wisconsin-supreme-court-election-hugely-important-election-happening-now/982158/47 "2023-04-05T15:05:37Z")
Honestly, they will likey be in political hot water if they don’t try to impeach. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2023, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wisconsin-supreme-court-election-hugely-important-election-happening-now/982158/48 "2023-04-05T15:08:37Z")
> [@Chingon](#): > > Honestly, they will likey be in political hot water if they don’t try to impeach . I guess I’m naïve. When is the last time a state supreme court justice was impeached? It’s just not something that should be normalized. It’s a huge affront to the whole idea of an independent judiciary. Hell, they didn’t even impeach William O. Douglas. ---
**Author:** ![Chingon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chingon/32/17645_2.png) [@Chingon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chingon)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2023, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wisconsin-supreme-court-election-hugely-important-election-happening-now/982158/49 "2023-04-05T15:16:59Z")
I’m not saying they will be successful, but they have to try. They would be betraying their voting base otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2023, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wisconsin-supreme-court-election-hugely-important-election-happening-now/982158/50 "2023-04-05T15:30:07Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Granted. But don’t they have to at least _allege_ something in addition to that? “She made statements on contentious issues during the election, which proves she carries an inherent bias, and will not rule objectively in our favor.” Good enough for the GOP. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2023, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wisconsin-supreme-court-election-hugely-important-election-happening-now/982158/51 "2023-04-05T15:31:45Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > It’s just not something that should be normalized. Hey, everybody! Procrustus is doing their cover of the theme song of the last six years! ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2023, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wisconsin-supreme-court-election-hugely-important-election-happening-now/982158/52 "2023-04-05T17:10:56Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > > [@Procrustus](#): > > > > Granted. But don’t they have to at least _allege_ something in addition to that? > > “She made statements on contentious issues during the election, which proves she carries an inherent bias, and will not rule objectively in our favor.” She alleged “The maps are rigged”, referring to gerrymandering, signed the Walker recall pettition, and has already declared her position on the existing abortion laws in the State. This all without hearing any related cases. (She would appear to be calling her shots prior to hearing the actual cases.) Those are some of the issues the GOP has with her. Also, she was accused of abusing her late husband and using racial slurs, which didn’t seem to move the needle with voters for some reason. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2023, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wisconsin-supreme-court-election-hugely-important-election-happening-now/982158/53 "2023-04-05T17:16:12Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > When is the last time a state supreme court justice was impeached? [https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/14/politics/west-virginia-supreme-court-impeach-trnd/index.html](https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/14/politics/west-virginia-supreme-court-impeach-trnd/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2023, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wisconsin-supreme-court-election-hugely-important-election-happening-now/982158/54 "2023-04-05T18:06:58Z")
I live in WI and have been subject to endless political ads for months and never heard the two allegations at the end of your post. Sounds like baseless mud-slinging, to me. Dan Kelly’s loser speech goes to show what a classless piece of shit he really is. WI dodged a bullet yesterday but I doubt the pathetic tactics of the WI republicans are over. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2023, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wisconsin-supreme-court-election-hugely-important-election-happening-now/982158/55 "2023-04-05T19:04:01Z")
Seems like it was all about abortion. Republicans are finding out that a majority in most swing states wants to have the right to choose, and feel pretty strongly about it. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2023, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wisconsin-supreme-court-election-hugely-important-election-happening-now/982158/56 "2023-04-05T20:36:40Z")
Among young people, it seems the right to choose is even important among conservatives. [This Hill article notes that 25% of potential college students avoid states for political reasons (both on the left and right), but even conservative students are avoiding states that have restrictive abortion laws.](https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/3926811-one-in-four-college-applicants-avoids-entire-states-for-political-reasons/) > One issue, at least, cut across ideological lines. A significant share of conservatives joined their liberal classmates in rejecting states with restrictive abortion laws. Doesn’t bode well for the pro-birth movement long-term. ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2023, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wisconsin-supreme-court-election-hugely-important-election-happening-now/982158/57 "2023-04-05T21:26:27Z")
> [@SmellMyWort](#): > > I live in WI and have been subject to endless political ads for months and never heard the two allegations at the end of your post. Sounds like baseless mud-slinging, to me. > > Dan Kelly’s loser speech goes to show what a classless piece of shit he really is. WI dodged a bullet yesterday but I doubt the pathetic tactics of the WI republicans are over. According to reports from “Wisconsin Right Now,” two people, Protasiewicz’s former stepson Michael Madden and Jonathan Ehr, who has been identified as “a long-time self-described liberal family friend of her ex-husband,” stated in recorded interviews “that they heard Protasiewicz use racial slurs when she was a prosecutor in Children’s Court.” Protasiewicz, who worked in children’s court for 16 years, reportedly used the “N-word” to describe black defendants and the parents of black children she encountered in her job. According to Madden, she also called them “lowlifes.” Protasiewicz has not denied the allegations, even after Wisconsin Right Now contacted her directly, attempting to verify them. From [Janet Protasiewicz Allegedly Used Racial Slurs & Abused Husband](https://thefederalist.com/2023/04/03/national-media-hides-accusations-about-leftist-wi-supreme-court-candidate-using-racial-slurs-and-abusing-husband/) ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2023, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wisconsin-supreme-court-election-hugely-important-election-happening-now/982158/58 "2023-04-05T21:33:03Z")
Congratulations Wisconsin! I take back some of the things I’ve said about you. ✌ (I buy my spices from Penzeys, too!) ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2023, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wisconsin-supreme-court-election-hugely-important-election-happening-now/982158/59 "2023-04-05T21:39:04Z")
Wait, can they just impeach and remove her now? ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2023, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wisconsin-supreme-court-election-hugely-important-election-happening-now/982158/60 "2023-04-05T21:40:54Z")
> [@Uncommon\_Sense](#): > > From [Janet Protasiewicz Allegedly Used Racial Slurs & Abused Husband](https://thefederalist.com/2023/04/03/national-media-hides-accusations-about-leftist-wi-supreme-court-candidate-using-racial-slurs-and-abusing-husband/) Just note that “The Federalist” is a right wing propaganda publisher, known for reporting false Covid info and pseudoscience, and pushing election conspiracies. It was co-founded 9 years ago by [Ben Domenech](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Domenech), the same guy who co-founded the RedState blog. He’s also a Fox News co-host and commentator. On other words, it’s about as notable as a report from Infowars. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wisconsin-supreme-court-election-hugely-important-election-happening-now/982158.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wisconsin-supreme-court-election-hugely-important-election-happening-now/982158.md?page=4)