Friends, don’t miss this. One Tuesday, April 3, you will have the opportunity to elect the next justice to our Wisconsin Supreme Court. This justice will be elected to a ten-year term—the longest term of office for any elected official in our state. During this person’s tenure on the bench, it’s safe to say that many important issues will be decided that will impact our families for decades to come.
It is imperative that you and I get familiar with these two judicial candidates so that we can cast the most educated vote possible in this critical election. Both parts of that equation are essential. For our democratic republic to function well, we must, first, be educated voters and second, we must vote.
The information I’m going to give you on the judicial candidates is being given strictly for educational purposes; we are not attempting to tell you whom you should vote for, nor are we attempting to influence the outcome of the election. We are, however, doing our best to educate you on the candidates—on the choices you must make on Tuesday, April 3. And now, some information on Linda Clifford and Annette Ziegler, the candidates that will be on our ballots on Tuesday, April 3.
Linda Clifford practices immigration and energy law at Godfrey and Kahn, a firm located in Madison. In addition to serving on the Board of Directors at that firm, she was appointed by Gov. Doyle to serve on the Wisconsin Historical Society Board of Curators and has also offered volunteer legal services to the Wisconsin chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. Clifford has no judicial experience.
Annette Ziegler serves as presiding judge of the Washington County Circuit Court. Before assuming her position on the bench nearly a decade ago when she was appointed by then-Gov. Tommy Thompson, she was an assistant U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin and before that, was in private practice in Milwaukee.
When it comes to notable affiliations and endorsements, Linda Clifford is affiliated with ACLU of Wisconsin and a group known as Attorneys Against the Ban, referring to Wisconsin’s Marriage Protection Amendment. She has been officially endorsed by all of Wisconsin's Democrat congressional representatives and US Senators. At the state level, she has been endorsed by more than 45 current or former state legislators, all of whom are Democrats. She has also been endorsed by 23 current or former Wisconsin judges.
Annette Ziegler is affiliated with the Boys and Girls Club and the Boy Scouts of America. Ziegler has been endorsed by Wisconsin Right to Life, as well as by more than 40 district attorneys and 45 county sheriffs both Democrats and Republicans. Ziegler has also been endorsed by 3 former state Supreme Court Justices and 3 current Wisconsin judges.
Regarding judicial philosophy, Clifford described hers while responding to a survey provided by Fair Wisconsin, an organization describing itself as “dedicated to advancing and protecting the civil rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.” She said, “As a justice, I promise to uphold the rule of law…to rely on legal precedent to promote legal stability, but not blindly, respecting the need for the slow evolution of the common law to reflect social, technological, or legislative change; and to interpret and uphold legislative enactments to advance legislative intent—unless those enactments violate civil liberties, constitutional rights, or fundamental freedoms or violate other constitutional or statutory provisions.”
Annette Ziegler describes her judicial philosophy on her campaign Web site. To quote from it, “…I believe that a judge has a definite and modest role. The Court’s duty is not to determine what the law should be or to negate laws in order to arrive at a desired outcome…. It is imperative that a Justice rely on legal precedent, the Constitution, and the language of the applicable law. In other words, a Supreme Court Justice must not legislate from the bench.”
So there are some basics on these candidates. The choice is up to you and me. To help you get educated on these candidates, we have put together a great resource that covers all of what I gave you today and more. It is available from our Web site, www.fri-wi.org, or you can call us toll-free at 888-378-7395 to request this information be mailed to your home. Remember, the election is April 3rd. Will your vote be an informed one?
This is Julaine Appling for The Family Research Institute of Wisconsin reminding you the prophet Hosea said, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”
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