Wisconsin Chief Appeals Courts Judge Lisa Neubauer formally launched her bid for the state Supreme Court today, becoming the first candidate to officially get in the race to replace longtime Justice Shirley Abrahamson.
In launching her bid, Neubauer said she’s been endorsed by more than 150 current and former Wisconsin judges. That includes 18 from the Wisconsin Court of Appeals.
“I am called to public service and seek to ensure that our next justice has the experience and independence that Wisconsinites deserve on the state’s highest court,” said Neubauer, who turns 61 next week.
Dem Gov. Jim Doyle appointed Neubauer to the Waukesha-based 2nd District Court of Appeals in 2007. Prior to that, she was a partner at Foley & Lardner. She won a race in 2008 to retain the appeals court seat and was re-elected in 2014. She’s been the chief judge for the appeals court since 2015.
Neubauer, who clerked for U.S. Judge Barbara Crabb, is married to Jeff Neubauer, who served in the state Legislature as a Dem and chaired the state party. Their daughter Greta won a special election in January as a Dem for an Assembly seat representing the Racine area.