List of justices of the Wisconsin Supreme Court

Last updated

Seal of the Supreme Court of Wisconsin.svg

This is a list of justices who have served or are currently serving on the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Contents

Territorial judges

JudgeTerm as justiceTerm as chiefSucceededNotes
StartEndStartEnd
Charles Dunn 1836184818361848New seatAppointed by Andrew Jackson. [1] [2]
William C. Frazer 18361838New seatAppointed by Andrew Jackson. [2] Died in office.
David Irvin 18361848New seatAppointed by Andrew Jackson. [2]
Andrew G. Miller 18381848 William C. Frazer Appointed by Martin Van Buren. [3]

Circuit justices serving as Supreme Court justices

Initially, Wisconsin's Supreme Court was just composed of the five judges of the five state judicial circuits. A sixth circuit was added in 1850. [4]

JudgeTerm as justiceTerm as chiefSucceededNotes
StartEndStartEnd
Alexander W. Stow 1848185118481851New seatElected in 4th circuit. [5]
Levi Hubbell 1848185318511851New seatElected in 2nd circuit. [6]
Edward V. Whiton 1848185318521853New seatElected in 1st circuit. [7]
Charles H. Larrabee 18481853New seatElected in 3rd circuit. [8]
Mortimer M. Jackson 18481853New seatElected in 5th circuit. [9]
Wiram Knowlton 18501853New seatElected in 6th circuit. [10]
Timothy O. Howe 18511853 Alexander W. Stow Elected in 4th circuit. [11]

Justices since 1853

In 1853, a separate Wisconsin Supreme Court was created with all members elected state-wide. Initially the court was three members; it grew to five justices in 1878, and to its current size of seven seats in 1907. Initially, the chief justice and associate justices were separate offices elected by the public, but a constitutional amendment ratified in 1889 converted all members of the court to "justices" and deemed that the "chief justice" would always be the justice who had served longest on the court (seniority). 126 years later, another constitutional amendment changed the selection rules for chief justice, abolishing the "seniority" rule, and instead mandating that the justices of the court would elect a chief justice from their members every two years. [4]

JudgeTerm as justiceTerm as chiefSucceededNotes
StartEndStartEnd
Edward V. Whiton 1853185918531859New seatElected (as chief justice) 1852, 1857.
Died in office. [7]
Samuel Crawford 18531855New seatElected 1852. Lost re-election 1855. [12]
Abram D. Smith 18531859New seatElected 1852. [13]
Orsamus Cole 1855189218801892 S. Crawford Elected 1855.
Appointed chief justice by William E. Smith
Elected (as chief justice) 1881. [14]
Luther S. Dixon 1859187418591874 E. V. Whiton Appointed chief justice by Alexander Randall.
Elected (as chief justice) 1860, [15] 1863, [16] 1868, [17] 1869. [18]
Resigned. [19]
Byron Paine 18591864 A. D. Smith Elected 1859.
Resigned. [20]
Jason Downer 18641867 B. Paine Appointed by James T. Lewis.
Elected 1865.
Resigned. [21]
Byron Paine18671871 J. Downer Appointed by Lucius Fairchild. Elected 1868.
Died in office. [20]
William P. Lyon 1871189418921894B. PaineAppointed by Lucius Fairchild.
Elected 1872, 1877, 1883.
Chief justice by seniority rule.
Edward George Ryan 1874188018741880 L. S. Dixon Appointed chief justice by William Robert Taylor.
Elected (as chief justice) 1875. Died in office.
David Taylor 18781891New seatElected 1878, 1885.
Harlow S. Orton 1878189518941895New seatElected 1878, 1887.
Chief justice by seniority rule.
Died in office.
John B. Cassoday 1880190718951907 E. G. Ryan Appointed by William E. Smith.
Elected 1881, 1889, 1899.
Chief justice by seniority rule.
Died in office.
John B. Winslow 1891192019071920 D. Taylor Appointed by George Wilbur Peck.
Chief justice by seniority rule.
Died in office.
Silas U. Pinney 18921898 O. Cole Elected. Resigned.
Alfred W. Newman 18941898 W. P. Lyon Elected. Died in office.
Roujet D. Marshall 18951918 H. S. Orton Appointed by William H. Upham.
Charles V. Bardeen 18981903 A. W. Newman Appointed by Edward Scofield. Died in office.
Joshua Eric Dodge 18981910 S. U. Pinney Appointed by Edward Scofield. Resigned.
Robert G. Siebecker 1903192219201922 C. V. Bardeen Appointed by Robert M. La Follette.
Chief justice by seniority rule.
Died in office.
James C. Kerwin 19051921New seatElected. Died in office.
William H. Timlin 19071916New seatElected. Died in office.
Robert McKee Bashford 19081908 J. B. Cassoday Appointed by James O. Davidson. Lost election.
John Barnes 19081916 R. M. Bashford Elected. Resigned.
Aad J. Vinje 1910192919221929 J. E. Dodge Appointed by James O. Davidson.
Chief justice by seniority rule.
Died in office.
Marvin B. Rosenberry 1916195019291950 J. Barnes Appointed by Emanuel L. Philipp.
Chief justice by seniority rule.
Franz C. Eschweiler 19161929 W. H. Timlin Elected 1916; appointed to begin early.
Died in office.
Walter C. Owen 19181934 R. D. Marshall Elected. Died in office.
Burr W. Jones 19201926 J. B. Winslow Appointed by Emanuel L. Philipp.
Christian Doerfler 19211929 J. C. Kerwin Appointed by John J. Blaine. Resigned.
Charles H. Crownhart 19221930 R. G. Siebecker Appointed by John J. Blaine. Elected 1923.
Died in office.
E. Ray Stevens 19261930 B. W. Jones Elected. Died in office.
Chester A. Fowler 19291948 A. J. Vinje Appointed by Walter J. Kohler Sr.
Died in office.
Oscar M. Fritz 1929195419501954 C. Doerfler Appointed by Walter J. Kohler Sr.
Chief justice by seniority rule.
Resigned.
Edward T. Fairchild 1929195719541957 F. C. Eschweiler Appointed by Walter J. Kohler Sr.
Chief justice by seniority rule.
John D. Wickhem 19301949 C. H. Crownhart Appointed by Walter J. Kohler Sr. Died in office.
George B. Nelson 19301942 E. R. Stevens Appointed by Walter J. Kohler Sr.
Theodore G. Lewis 19341934 W. C. Owen Appointed by Albert G. Schmedeman. Died in office.
Joseph Martin 19341946 T. G. Lewis Appointed by Albert G. Schmedeman. Died in office.
Elmer E. Barlow 19421948 G. B. Nelson Elected. Died in office.
James Ward Rector 19461947 J. Martin Appointed by Walter Samuel Goodland. Lost election.
Henry P. Hughes 19481951 J. W. Rector Elected. Resigned.
John E. Martin 1948196219571962 C. A. Fowler Appointed by Oscar Rennebohm.
Chief justice by seniority rule.
Grover L. Broadfoot 1948196219621962 E. E. Barlow Appointed by Oscar Rennebohm.
Chief justice by seniority rule.
Died in office.
Timothy Brown 1949196419621964 J. D. Wickhem Appointed by Oscar Rennebohm.
Chief justice by seniority rule.
Edward J. Gehl 19501956 M. B. Rosenberry Elected. Died in office.
George R. Currie 1951196819641968 H. P. Hughes Appointed by Walter J. Kohler Jr.
Chief justice by seniority rule.
Lost re-election.
Roland J. Steinle 19541958 O. M. Fritz Appointed by Walter J. Kohler Jr. Resigned.
Emmert L. Wingert 19561959 E. J. Gehl Appointed by Walter J. Kohler Jr. Lost election.
Thomas E. Fairchild 19571966 E. T. Fairchild Elected.
Resigned; appointed judge, U.S. 7th Circuit.
E. Harold Hallows 1958197419681974 R. J. Steinle Appointed by Vernon Wallace Thomson.
Chief justice by seniority rule.
Resigned.
William H. Dieterich 19591964 E. L. Wingert Elected. Died in office.
Myron L. Gordon 19621967 J. E. Martin Elected.
Resigned; appointed U.S. dist. judge, E.D.Wis.
Horace W. Wilkie 1962197619741976 G. L. Broadfoot Appointed by Gaylord Nelson.
Chief justice by seniority rule.
Died in office.
Bruce F. Beilfuss 1964198319761983 T. Brown Elected.
Chief justice by seniority rule.
Nathan S. Heffernan 1964199519831995 W. H. Dieterich Appointed by John W. Reynolds Jr.
Chief justice by seniority rule.
Leo B. Hanley 19661978 T. E. Fairchild Appointed by Warren P. Knowles. Elected 1968.
Connor Hansen 19671980 M. L. Gordon Appointed by Warren P. Knowles. Elected 1970.
Robert W. Hansen 19671977 G. R. Currie Elected 1967.
Roland B. Day 1974199619951996 E. H. Hallows Appointed by Patrick Lucey.
Elected 1976, 1986.
Chief justice by seniority rule.
Shirley S. Abrahamson 1976201919962015 H. W. Wilkie Appointed by Patrick Lucey.
Elected 1979, 1989, 1999, 2009.
Chief justice by seniority rule.
William G. Callow 19771992 R. W. Hansen Elected 1977. Resigned.
John L. Coffey 19781982 L. B. Hanley Elected 1978.
Resigned; appointed judge, U.S. 7th circuit
Donald W. Steinmetz 19801999 C. Hansen Elected 1980, 1990. Resigned.
Louis J. Ceci 19821993 J. L. Coffey Appointed by Lee S. Dreyfus.
William A. Bablitch 19832003 B. F. Beilfuss Elected 1983, 1993.
Jon P. Wilcox 19922007 W. G. Callow Appointed by Tommy Thompson. Elected 1997.
Janine P. Geske 19931998 L. J. Ceci Appointed by Tommy Thompson. Resigned.
Ann Walsh Bradley 1995Current N. Heffernan Elected 1995, 2005, 2015.
N. Patrick Crooks 19962015 R. B. Day Elected 1996, 2006. Died in office.
David T. Prosser 19982016 J. P. Geske Appointed by Tommy Thompson. Elected 2001, 2011. Resigned.
Diane S. Sykes 19992004 D. W. Steinmetz Appointed by Tommy Thompson.
Resigned; appointed judge, U.S. 7th circuit
Patience D. Roggensack 2003202320152021 W. A. Bablitch Elected 2003, 2013.
Chief justice by court majority.
Louis B. Butler 20042008 D. S. Sykes Appointed by Jim Doyle. Lost election.
Annette Ziegler 2007Current2021Current J. P. Wilcox Elected 2007, 2017.
Chief justice by court majority.
Michael Gableman 20082018 L. B. Butler Elected 2008.
Rebecca Bradley 2015Current N. P. Crooks Appointed by Scott Walker. Elected 2016.
Daniel Kelly 20162020 D. T. Prosser Appointed by Scott Walker. Lost election.
Rebecca Dallet 2018Current M. Gableman Elected 2018.
Brian Hagedorn 2019Current S. Abrahamson Elected 2019.
Jill Karofsky 2020Current D. Kelly Elected 2020.
Janet Protasiewicz 2023Current P. Roggensack Elected 2023.

Sources

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Supreme Court of the United States</span> Highest court of jurisdiction in the US

The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) is the highest court in the federal judiciary of the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all U.S. federal court cases, and over state court cases that turn on questions of U.S. constitutional or federal law. It also has original jurisdiction over a narrow range of cases, specifically "all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, and those in which a State shall be Party." The court holds the power of judicial review: the ability to invalidate a statute for violating a provision of the Constitution. It is also able to strike down presidential directives for violating either the Constitution or statutory law.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Politics of Zimbabwe</span>

The politics of Zimbabwe occurs in a society deeply divided along lines of race, ethnicity, gender and geography. The ZANU–PF party has historically been dominant in Zimbabwe politics. The party, which was led by Robert Mugabe from 1980 to 2017, has used the powers of the state to intimidate, imprison and otherwise hobble political opposition in Zimbabwe, as well as use state funds and state media to advance the interests of the party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Supreme Court of Florida</span> Highest court in the U.S. state of Florida

The Supreme Court of Florida is the highest court in the U.S. state of Florida. It consists of seven justices—one of whom serves as Chief Justice. Six members are chosen from six districts around the state to foster geographic diversity, and one is selected at large.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Supreme Court of Virginia</span> Highest court in the U.S. state of Virginia

The Supreme Court of Virginia is the highest court in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It primarily hears direct appeals in civil cases from the trial-level city and county circuit courts, as well as the criminal law, family law and administrative law cases that are initially appealed to the Court of Appeals of Virginia. Established in 1779 as the Supreme Court of Appeals, the Supreme Court of Virginia is one of the oldest continuously active judicial bodies in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shirley Abrahamson</span> American judge (1933–2020)

Shirley Schlanger Abrahamson was the 25th chief justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court. An American lawyer and jurist, she was appointed to the court in 1976 by Governor Patrick Lucey, becoming the first female justice to serve on Wisconsin's highest court. She became the court's first female chief justice on August 1, 1996, and served in that capacity until April 29, 2015. In all, she served on the court for 43 years (1976–2019), making her the longest-serving justice in the history of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wisconsin Supreme Court</span> Highest court in the U.S. state of Wisconsin

The Wisconsin Supreme Court is the highest appellate court in Wisconsin. The Supreme Court has jurisdiction over original actions, appeals from lower courts, and regulation or administration of the practice of law in Wisconsin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patience D. Roggensack</span> 26th Chief Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court

Patience Drake "Pat" Roggensack is a retired American attorney and jurist. She was the 26th chief justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court (2015–2021), and served 20 years on the high court, from 2003 through 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colorado Supreme Court</span> Highest court in the U.S. state of Colorado

The Colorado Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of Colorado. Located in Denver, the court was established in 1876. It consists of a Chief Justice and six Associate Justices who are appointed by the Governor of Colorado from a list of candidates approved by a state judicial commission. Each justice faces a retention election two years after his or her appointment and every ten years thereafter, with mandatory retirement at age 72.

The Constitution of the State of Wisconsin is the governing document of the U.S. State of Wisconsin. It establishes the structure and function of state government, describes the state boundaries, and declares the rights of state citizens. The Wisconsin Constitution was written at a constitutional convention held in Madison, Wisconsin, in December 1847 and approved by the citizens of Wisconsin Territory in a referendum held in March 1848. Wisconsin was admitted to the United States on May 29, 1848. Although it has been amended over a hundred times, the original constitution ratified in 1848 is still in use. This makes the Wisconsin Constitution the oldest U.S. state constitution outside New England. Only Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, and Rhode Island use older constitutions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orsamus Cole</span> 19th century American politician and judge, 6th Chief Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court

Orsamus R. Cole was an American lawyer and judge. He served as the 6th Chief Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, and, until 2013, was the longest-serving justice in the Court's history, with nearly 37 years on the high court. He also represented Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives for the 31st Congress (1849–1850). His name is frequently misspelled as Orasmus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Constitutional Court of Indonesia</span>

The Constitutional Court of the Republic of Indonesia is one of the apex courts in Indonesia along with the Indonesian Supreme Court. Its primary role is reviewing the constitutionality of Acts (undang-undang). It also has other functions, including resolving disputes over the powers of state institutions, settling disputes over the results of general elections, deciding on the dissolution of political parties, and supervising impeachment. The last two functions have never been exercised by the Court.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Taylor (Wisconsin judge)</span> 19th century American lawyer and judge, justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court

David W. Taylor was an American attorney, judge, and Republican politician. He was a justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court for the last 13 years of his life (1878–1891). Previously, he served ten years as a Wisconsin circuit court judge, and was a member of the Wisconsin State Senate and Assembly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert G. Siebecker</span> American judge, 11th Chief Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court

Robert George Siebecker was an American attorney and the 11th Chief Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court. He served on the Wisconsin Supreme Court for the last 19 years of his life (1903–1922). Before being appointed to the Supreme Court, he served 13 years as a Wisconsin circuit court judge in central Wisconsin and was a law partner of Robert M. "Fighting Bob" La Follette.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edward V. Whiton</span> American judge, first elected Chief Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court

Edward Vernon Whiton was an American lawyer, jurist, and Wisconsin pioneer. He was the first elected Chief Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, serving on the Supreme Court from its creating in 1848 until his death in 1859. He had previously served in the Wisconsin Territory legislature and was a framer of Wisconsin's constitution.

Bruce Frederich Beilfuss was an American lawyer and jurist from Clark County, Wisconsin. He was the 22nd chief justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, from 1976 to 1983, and served a total of 20 years on the high court. He previously served 16 years as a Wisconsin circuit court judge, and 7 years as district attorney.

George R. Currie was an American attorney and jurist who served as the 19th Chief Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court (1964–1968). He was the first Wisconsin chief justice to be unseated by electoral defeat.

Timothy Brown Sr. was an American lawyer and jurist from Madison, Wisconsin. He was the 18th chief justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court (1962–1963), and served a total of 14 years on the court. Before joining the court, he was executive legal counsel to governors Walter S. Goodland and Oscar Rennebohm, the latter appointed him to the Supreme Court.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luther S. Dixon</span> 19th century American judge, 4th Chief Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court

Luther Swift Dixon was an American lawyer, jurist, and Wisconsin pioneer. He was the 4th chief justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, serving from 1859 to 1874. He previously served as a Wisconsin circuit court judge and district attorney in Columbia County, Wisconsin.

Michael T. Sullivan was an American lawyer and judge. He was a judge of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals for 12 years, after serving nearly 30 years as a trial court judge in Milwaukee County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 Wisconsin elections</span>

The 2015 Wisconsin Spring Election was held in the U.S. state of Wisconsin on April 7, 2015. There was a contested election for justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, as well as several other nonpartisan local and judicial elections and an amendment to the Constitution of Wisconsin to change the process for selection of the chief justice of the State Supreme Court. In addition, the ballot contained a special election to fill a vacancy in the 20th State Senate district. The 2015 Wisconsin Spring Primary was held February 17, 2015.

References

  1. ↑ "Dunn, Charles 1799 - 1872". Wisconsin Historical Society . Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 "Timeline of Wisconsin history, 1836-1899". Wisconsin Historical Society . Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Miller, Andrew Galbraith". Federal Judicial Center. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  4. 1 2 "History of the courts". Wisconsin Court System. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Former justices - Justice Alexander W. Stow". Wisconsin Court System. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Former justices - Justice Levi Hubbell". Wisconsin Court System. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  7. 1 2 "Former justices - Justice Edward V. Whiton". Wisconsin Court System. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Former justices - Justice Charles H. Larrabee". Wisconsin Court System. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Former justices - Justice Mortimer M. Jackson". Wisconsin Court System. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Former justices - Justice Wiram Knowlton". Wisconsin Court System. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Former justices - Justice Timothy O. Howe". Wisconsin Court System. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  12. ↑ "Former Justices - Justice Samuel Crawford". Wisconsin Court System. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Former Justices - Justice Abram D. Smith". Wisconsin Court System. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Former Justices - Justice Orsamus Cole". Wisconsin Court System. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Official Canvass". Wisconsin State Journal . May 9, 1860. p. 2. Retrieved December 29, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  16. ↑ "Tabular Statement of Votes Polled for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court". Wisconsin State Journal . May 23, 1863. p. 2. Retrieved December 29, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  17. ↑ "Official Vote". Manitowoc Pilot. June 19, 1868. p. 2. Retrieved December 29, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  18. ↑ "Election of Chief Justice". Wisconsin State Journal . April 9, 1869. p. 2. Retrieved December 29, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  19. ↑ "Former Justices - Justice Luther S. Dixon". Wisconsin Court System. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  20. 1 2 "Former Justices - Justice Byron Paine". Wisconsin Court System. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  21. ↑ "Former Justices - Justice Jason Downer". Wisconsin Court System. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.