MILWAUKEE – Justice Janet Protasiewicz was sworn into the Wisconsin Supreme Court today, flipping the court to one that values women’s freedom and health. The flip means that the court could rule to overturn the state’s dangerous abortion ban. Physicians from Prairie Du Chien to Milwaukee, and everywhere in between, have witnessed firsthand the negative impact of the state’s 1849 abortion ban on their patients, and celebrated Justice Protasiewicz’ election to the court.
“Today is a day we have been waiting for. Our new Justice embodies values that we want to see represented in our state’s highest court, like bodily autonomy and medical freedom. The care my colleagues and I can provide has been very limited since the state’s reckless abortion ban went into effect, but, with Protasiewicz, the state Supreme Court can change that,” said Dr. Danae Steele, an Appleton area maternal-fetal medicine specialist and Committee member. “She knows women’s access to their own bodies is humane and necessary for their health and safety, and champions my right to rely on my medical expertise – not the whims of lawmakers.”
Physicians in Wisconsin are optimistic that Justice Protasiewicz will uphold the values that she campaigned on as she begins her ten-year term. Her swearing-in today marks the first time in fifteen years that a liberal majority is in control of the state’s Supreme Court.
“Wisconsin physicians organized to support Justice Protasiewicz in her bid for the Wisconsin Supreme Court. More than 300 medical professionals signed a letter urging voters to go out and vote for her to protect women’s health and medical freedom,” Dr Ann Helms, a Milwaukee area critical care neurologist and Wisconsin State Lead for the Committee said. “We are hopeful that Wisconsin can return to being a state that allows women to access safe and legal abortion care, especially as Attorney General Josh Kaul’s lawsuit against the ban moves through the legal process.”
Dane County Circuit Court Judge Diane Schlipper rejected Sheboygan County District Attorney’s motion to dismiss Attorney General Kaul’s lawsuit earlier this month.
“When then-Judge Janet Protasiewicz won her race, physicians in our state felt some relief. Our state Supreme Court had just flipped to one that prioritizes women’s health and medical freedom,” Dr. Scott Walker, a Prairie Du Chien area family medicine physician and Committee member said. “Now that she has been seated, we look forward to her championing those values.”
