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OPINION & EDITORIAL

Judges need diverse résumés

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by Letters to the Editor

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Thursday's article "Court race in dead heat" presents a misleading perspective about the Supreme Court race happening this spring. The article states that only one candidate is currently a judge, implying that judicial experience is a prerequisite for becoming a Supreme Court Justice.

Wisconsin history shows that judicial experience is neither essential nor always beneficial for the Court. In fact, 36 of the past 73 Justices came from outside the court system. These Justices brought valuable experiences from private practice, the law school or the legislature. Two of these Justices are former Chief Justices Roland Day and Nate Heffernan, both of whom support Linda Clifford's candidacy. They understand that her three decades of working with real people on real problems is the perspective the Court needs in 2007.

Currently 5 of the 7 Justices came from the lower courts. You wouldn't want a jury of people all from the same profession, just like you wouldn't want a Supreme Court all from the same profession. The Court needs a seasoned practitioner who knows how the decisions it makes directly impact the people of Wisconsin more than it needs another trial judge. The Wisconsin Supreme Court needs Linda Clifford, who can bring that body of experience, because the Court works best when its members reflect a variety of professional experience.

David Bolles Second-year Student University of Wisconsin Law School

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Anonymous (February 13, 2007 @ 9:49am):

Go Clifford!

Anonymous (February 13, 2007 @ 2:00pm):

We have never elected to the State's Highest Court, an attorney who has not served as a judge. Yes, attorneys have been appointed and then elected once the seat they filled came up for election. But they have never been first elected as only attorneys. Wisconsinites elected Judges. Wisconsinites understand the meaning of experience. It takes a judge who has sat in that seat, understands ALL aspects of the law, and can hit the ground running, to assume the role of a Supreme Court Justice. Annette Ziegler is that judge.

Anonymous (February 14, 2007 @ 11:18am):

Actually, the previous comment has no factual basis. There have been several candidates from outside of the Court system who have won election to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. In most recent history there was Justice Bablitch.

These Justices have played an important role in balancing the debate on the Court. The Supreme Court is not a trial court so Annette's experience as a trial judge would not allow her to "hit the ground running."

Linda has more experience with appellate courts, like the Wisconsin Supreme Court, as she has argued over 30 appellate cases in front of both the US Supreme Court and Wisconsin Supreme Court. She knows how this system works and better yet, she knows how the decision the Court mAnnette has NO experience in an appellate court

You'll have to find a better argument than who has more quality experience if you want to promote Ziegler. The facts support Linda. Her 32 years as a seasoned practitioner trump Annette's 10 years as a trial judge.

It's like you didn't even read the letter and are just shouting the same tired slogans that hold no weight in this race.

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