The last two state Supreme Court elections have damaged the credibility of Wisconsin's highest court. In both elections, misleading television advertisements funded by outside special interests flooded the airwaves.
As a member of the Wisconsin bar since 1998, I have litigated both civil and criminal cases before both state and federal judges. I have also seen the litigation process from the other side of the bench, when I served as a judicial law clerk for a federal judge. It is painful for me to watch our state's highest court fall victim to negative campaigning and misleading television commercials.
Our current system for selecting state Supreme Court justices is broken. The question is what to do.
I am a candidate for the 81st Assembly District this year, so I certainly have nothing against campaigns and elections. I've spent many hours knocking on doors in Waunakee during the campaign and telling voters what I will do if elected. But unlike legislators, justices are expected to be neutral magistrates removed from the rough-and-tumble of partisan politics. Unlike candidates for the legislature, candidates for the Supreme Court are ethically prohibited from making "campaign promises" on how they will vote if elected.
Some have advocated having the taxpayers pay for Supreme Court campaigns. But having taxpayers foot the bill won't change the underlying problem. The only thing worse than watching more negative campaign commercials in Supreme Court elections would be having your own tax dollars pay for them.
Another option is to have the governor directly appoint justices. This system is similar to that used in the federal courts, with justices nominated by the president. Unfortunately, this approach also has its weakness. Judicial nominations can be made on the basis of political connections rather than legal acumen, for example President Bush's failed nomination of Harriet Miers.
There is a third way, one that avoids both negative campaigns and politically-motivated appointments. That way is judicial merit selection. Under the merit selection model, lawyers and judges who want to serve on the state Supreme Court apply to a judicial selection commission. The commission is made up of both lawyers and non-lawyers. The members of this commission are appointed by the governor, but the members' terms are staggered so a governor cannot pack the commission with political allies. After interviewing the candidates and recommending a "short list" to the governor, the governor makes the final appointment. The governor is required to pick one of the names on the list, thus ensuring that an unqualified political crony cannot make an end run around the process. After an initial term in office, the justice is subject to an up-or-down vote by the voters of the state. Judicial merit selection is already used by 24 states, and there is a consensus that the system has worked well elsewhere.
Picking justices for Wisconsin's Supreme Court is too important to be decided on the basis of 30-second television commercials or political connections. It's time for Wisconsin to restore integrity to its highest court by establishing a merit selection system.
Tim Kiefer
Tim Kiefer is a Democratic candidate for the 81st Assembly district. A graduate of Harvard Law School, he currently serves as a Dane County assistant district attorney.
Waunakee needs a public pool
I am a 9-year-old resident of Waunakee. Yesterday, I had a lot of fun swimming in my friend's neighborhood pool. He lives in Meadowbrook.
I think Waunakee really needs a pool for kids to swim in. I think it would be a lot of fun because my friend and I could go swimming at a public pool.
Now my mom has to take me all the way over to Middleton to go swimming. It's not fair that just because I live in a certain neighborhood, it means I don't have a pool to swim in. Most kids in Waunakee would probably like to have a public pool to take their friends to.
I hope you consider this because it would be lots of fun.
Koby van Deelen
Volunteers
make Lodi fair
My family and I, along with many others, have been volunteering at the Lodi Ag Fair through the years.
For as far back as I can remember, we have always enjoyed favorable weather during this fair. This year mother nature reminded us who still has control. The heavy rains and strong winds on Thursday evening and Friday highlighted the true depth of the community involvement and spirit.
Brian Schmidt and crew, along with the city of Lodi teamed up with the fair board, exhibitors, and volunteers to spread bark, move animals, pump water or whatever job needed to be done, so visitors could enjoy another great fair weekend. This fair has always had a tremendous volunteer base, which extends to Waunakee, Ashton, De Forest, Dane, Windsor, Sun Prairie, Rio, Poynette, Arlington, Leeds, Roxbury, Cross Plains, Black Earth and Mazomanie.
I would like to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to all those involved. It makes me proud to be a member of such a strong volunteer base and community.
