Posted on 02/22/2018 6:55:59 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
In Tuesday’s Wisconsin Supreme Court Election primary, Sauk County Judge Michael Screnock and Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Rebecca Dallet advanced to the general election in April. Screnock received the most votes, over 46 percent, according to the latest tally from the Associated Press. Dallet finished second with nearly 36 percent of the vote.
“Tonight’s results serve as proof that voters across Wisconsin value the importance of a fair and impartial judiciary focused on upholding the rule of law and respecting our Constitution and the separation of powers, regardless of their political affiliation,” Screnock said after his primary victory. “I am humbled and grateful for the support of so many Wisconsin citizens, and I look forward to continuing my campaign across our great state ahead of the April 3rd general election.”
Despite a novel approach to campaigning for an open Supreme Court seat and the endorsement of Alyssa Milano, Madison attorney Tim Burns was unable to even win Dane County, his home county. Burns ran as an unabashed member of the Progressive left, but that was not enough to become the leftwing candidate to advance to the general. He only received nearly 18 percent of the vote.
Burns’ campaign style, however, caused Dallet to run to the left during the primary. Dallet campaigned as Burns-lite on issues such as redistricting, Act 10, the John Doe investigation, gun control, and even attacked President Donald Trump in a television commercial. Dallet also claimed that she should be elected to the state Supreme Court because she is a woman, despite women serving as five out of the seven Supreme Court Justices, including Chief Justice Pat Roggensack.
On Election Night, Burns did not commit to endorsing Dallet, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, saying he would need a few days to consider it.
Screnock ran as the judicial conservative in the race and received backing from traditionally conservative groups. He consistently advocated for a judicial philosophy that stated it should not matter what his personal opinions were, what mattered was the law and the state Constitution.
While Screnock did not capture a majority of the ballots cast, his vote percentage was similar to that of Justice Rebecca Bradley’s percentage in the primary in 2016. Bradley went on to win the general election with 52 percent of the vote.
In 2011, incumbent Supreme Court Justice David Prosser, a conservative, won a majority of the vote, 55 percent, in a four-way primary. However, the general election became a referendum on Act 10 and Prosser barely survived against little-known Joanne Kloppenburg by 7,006 votes after a recount prompted by a vote-tallying error by the Waukesha County Clerk.
Despite the weather, turnout was actually higher than expected, according to the Wisconsin State Journal, with 11.6 percent of eligible voters casting ballots.
I'm also posting an Editorial about the HUGE mistake Dallet (D) made about, 'the rule of law.'
Governor Scott Walker and President Donald Trump have done so much to save Wisconsin from the Socialists.
*BIG SMILE*
Score Round One For The Rule of Law
by George Mitchell | Feb 21, 2018
For the next six weeks, Milwaukee Judge Rebecca Dallet needs to take 100 percent ownership of her gaffe about the single issue that explains Judge Michael Screnock’s victory in Tuesday’s primary.
Speaking of Screnock at a candidate forum, the supposedly moderate Dallet took the audience by surprise when she said:
He’s talking about all this rhetoric about rule of law garbage…He’s just saying the same tired old thing that doesn’t mean anything.
Oh really? Then how is it that a virtually unknown judge from a small rural county outpolled candidates from the state’s most populous regions?
Screnock relentlessly drove home what is the defining difference between him, Dallet, and the so-called progressive bloc of voters who have come up short in every recent Wisconsin Supreme Court race. His message is stark and unambiguous:
I believe strongly in the rule of law. The role of a judge or justice is to interpret and apply the law, not rewrite the law…When a court is asked to interpret a law, its role is to declare what the law is, based on what the legislative and executive branches have done, and not what the court thinks it should be. Following these principles, the judiciary should never serve as a political check on the actions of the other two branches. It is not the role of a court to veto, or rewrite, laws that it believes are unwise or imprudent.
Judge Dallet believes otherwise. Exhibit A is Act 10, which she says the court “got wrong” when it upheld that law as constitutional. Notably, the late Justice Patrick Crooks joined in the 5-2 court decision. Crooks explicitly offered his negative assessment of the bill — on policy grounds — and just as clearly said that view was irrelevant to the Court’s role.
So, the stakes are clear and high. It’s either Judge Screnock and his adherence to the rule of law or Judge Dallet and her dismissal of “rule of law garbage.”
https://rightwisconsin.com/2018/02/21/score-round-one-rule-law/
I thought judges didn’t run on party affiliation. At least not here in Texas.
I like the Dan Odonell lead in for her now on his radio show:
“Rebecca Dallet the Liberal on the Ballet”
Make it stick as part of the campaign. :)
Here is a link to Judge Screnock’s campaign site.
https://www.judgescrenock.com/donate/
If anyone can donate, please do so. Dallet and Burns split the democrat vote. IMO, Judge Screnock has a battle on his hands. And you know those crazy liberals. I’m sure out of state money will poor into Dallet’s campaign. Anything to make Gov. Walker’s job harder.
Remember that Dallet shared the conservative vote with another progressive, Burns (Madison) who received just under 18%t of the vote and didn’t win over Madison voters, his home area. I expect this will be a close race between Dallet and Screnock and hope that Screnock will prevail.
They should also metaphorically tattoo “I’m not for the rule of law” on her stupid forehead.
Partisan/non partisan elections for judges. A mixed bag.
https://courts.uslegal.com/selection-of-judges/state-by-state-summary-of-judicial-selection/
Texas judges do run on party affiliation. One Dallas State Judge is well known for flipping between Democrat to Republican to Democrat because of straight party voting.
Let’s hope the R dominance continues. Like most observers, I’d pretty much mentally written off Wisconsin as a lost cause politically. I.e., “Blue Wall.”
As for running as a democrat or republican, they don't do that here in Wisconsin, but when one candidate (Screnock) runs as someone who will abide by the constitution and the other two either state outright that they don't care about constitutional matters (Burns)and the other (Dallet) has a long track record of being a liberal jurist in Milwaukee county, it isn't difficult to determine political parties.
I am worried about that, too! Now with the shooting/gun thing going on in Florida, I think the Dems and anti-gun people are more motivated then ever! I am very worried!
On a better not, my son (18) registered and voted for the first time in the primary. His only question to me was ‘which one is the conservative again?’ I love that kid!
“Like most observers, I’d pretty much mentally written off Wisconsin as a lost cause politically, i.e., ‘Blue Wall.’”
I’ve lived here (on & off) my whole LIFE and even *I* was convinced we’d never accomplish all that we have.
Love My Gov! And we flipped ‘Sconny RED for President Trump. MAGA!
Yes. Candidates for SC are not listed by Party on the ballot. We were voters #15 & #16 on Tuesday in our little Cow Town of 283 souls.
MAGA! :)
They don't, but everybody knows their leanings.
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