MADISON—On April 3, Wisconsin voters will go to the polls with the rare opportunity to choose a state supreme court justice. Madison attorney Linda Clifford and Washington County Circuit Judge Annette Ziegler seek to replace retiring justice Jon Wilcox. To aid voter decision-making, the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance (WISTAX) asked both candidates to provide information about their backgrounds and views. Their answers are published in the March issue of The Wisconsin Taxpayer.

The two candidates answered several questions, including:

• Why are you running for the Wisconsin Supreme Court?

• How would you characterize your judicial philosophy?

• What unique talents, experiences, or insights would you add to the court that would improve it?

• Over the next 10 years, in what area of the law do you predict the Wisconsin Supreme Court will have the most impact?

To assist voters and the media, WISTAX is making this issue of its Taxpayer magazine available for free on its website at www.wistax.org. According to WISTAX president Todd A. Berry, "We believe Wisconsin voters are hungry for something more than television ads. This article allows them to read what the candidates actually have to say." Now in its 75th year, WISTAX is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to government research and citizen education.

The WISTAX article also discusses the organization and history of the state’s top court. Whichever candidate wins, she will be the sixth female justice in state history. As a result of the election, four of the court’s seven justices will be women for the second time. The first female majority lasted from 2003 to 2004, when Shirley Abrahamson, Ann Walsh Bradley, Patience Roggensack, and Diane Sykes served simultaneously.

Abrahamson, the first female chief justice, is approaching several Wisconsin Supreme Court records for longevity. The 2007 term will mark her 32nd year on the court. Only Justices Orasmus Cole (1855-1892) and Marvin Rosenberry (1916-1950) have served longer. Also, assuming she serves until the end of her term in 2009, Abrahamson’s tenure as chief justice will be the second longest in Wisconsin history.