Here & Now

Janet Protasiewicz and Wisconsin Supreme Court Expectations

Ann Walsh Bradley:

And will faithfully…

Janet Protasiewicz:

And will faithfully…

Ann Walsh Bradley:

And impartially…

Janet Protasiewicz:

And impartially…

Zac Schultz:

Janet Protasiewicz took the oath of office to join the Wisconsin Supreme Court in the Capitol rotunda Tuesday.

Ann Walsh Bradley:

Ladies and gentlemen, our justice.

Zac Schultz:

In her speech, she said all the things an impartial justice should say.

Janet Protasiewicz:

The Wisconsin Supreme Court’s execution of our duties without favor to special interests, political pressure or our own personal beliefs is vital to giving the people of our state trust and confidence in our judicial system.

Zac Schultz:

But everyone in the crowd of friends and colleagues understood her investiture means the court will now have a liberal majority after 15 years of conservatives controlling the court.

Ann Walsh Bradley:

How wonderful. What an amazing day.

Zac Schultz:

Justice Ann Walsh Bradley has served on the court for 28 years and hinted that changes to come, like opening up the judicial process to more transparency.

Ann Walsh Bradley:

Our challenge, the challenge of the seven justices, all of us on the Supreme Court, is to work to enhance the public trust and confidence of the people in the judiciary and return this court to the national reputation that it once enjoyed.

Zac Schultz:

Protasiewicz campaigned by talking about her values on issues like abortion and gerrymandering but has not referenced those topics by name since her election in April.

Janet Protasiewicz:

The issues that will come before this court are complex. Many of them deal with our most basic rights that are outlined in our constitution. Decisions that this court will be making will impact some of the most important aspects of our daily lives.

Zac Schultz:

As Wisconsin’s non-partisan Supreme Court elections have become more partisan, voters have started expecting partisan results from their candidates. Conservatives have been angry with Justice Brian Hagedorn for years because he occasionally sides with the liberals on the court. What do Protasiewicz’ s supporters expect of her on the court?

Brenda Ashley:

Well, we expect it to be liberal now and for women’s rights also, and she’s fair, so we expect fairness.

Natalie Guimont:

And I think that she’ll be able to really uphold her ideals that she ran with, as was stated in her campaign. She is very, like, moral — she sticks to her morals.

Zac Schultz:

Chris Taylor is a former Democratic legislator and is now a Wisconsin appellate court judge.

Chris Taylor:

She has certain values that she holds, that she talked a lot about that are shared by the people of the state of Wisconsin. I think she’s going to bring those values to the bench without prejudging what’s before her, but the big message I think here is fairness and giving every person a chance to get the justice they need from the state Supreme Court.

Zac Schultz:

Protasiewicz directed one portion of her speech to her colleagues, but the message applied to all her supporters.

Janet Protasiewicz:

But I’m ready to get to work and I’m ready to deliver justice and common sense as a member of this court.

Zac Schultz:

Reporting from Madison, I’m Zac Schultz for “Here & Now.”