MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Tonight, Judge Janet Protasiewicz advanced to the April 4th general election for Wisconsin Supreme Court, earning more votes than any other candidate on the primary ballot.
Below are excerpts of Protasiewicz’s remarks, as prepared for delivery at the campaign’s election night party in Milwaukee:
I’m honored that the people of Wisconsin have chosen me as one of the candidates to continue on from this primary – and not just that, but I’m proud that we earned more votes than any other candidate today.
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But, as much as we should celebrate tonight, this is just the beginning and our work is far from over. I’m counting on all of you to continue the momentum we’ve built all the way through April 4th – because there’s too much at stake in this election for us to take anything for granted.
I got in this race because I care about our state and I know Wisconsin deserves more from our supreme court. I was born and raised on the south side of Milwaukee to hard-working parents. I went to UWM and then Marquette Law School, working my way through college as a waitress. I have been rooted in my community my whole life and I have dedicated my career to public service. My only client has been the people of Wisconsin.
I’ve seen our judicial system up close and I believe in something that is universal to Wisconsinites all across our state and that is: everyone should get a fair shot to demand justice–and not feel like the thumb is on the scale against them.
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I can’t tell you how I’ll rule in any case, but throughout this race, I’ve been clear about what my values are. That’s because you deserve to know what any candidate seeking this office believes.
I value a woman’s freedom to make her own reproductive healthcare decisions with her doctor, family, and faith.
I also value our democracy and believe every Wisconsinite deserves to be fairly represented. Your vote matters and our constitution guarantees the right to vote and to have a representative democracy in this country.
I value public safety and believe everyone in our state has the right to live in a safe community. We need to uphold our laws, protect the rights of victims, and hold people accountable for their actions.
These aren’t partisan values, these are common sense.
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It’s too early to tell who my opponent will be in April – but regardless of the outcome, we know I’ll be running against someone who doesn’t share these values. I’ll be running against someone who doesn’t think women in Wisconsin should be able to make their own health care decisions, someone who could threaten our democracy, and someone who won’t hesitate to put extreme, partisan beliefs ahead of the laws of our state. That’s why we need to win.
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Judge Janet Protasiewicz is a 25-year prosecutor and current Milwaukee County Circuit Court judge, and a lifelong advocate for victims of crime. In nearly a decade on the bench she has earned the respect of the community, developing a reputation for being fair and impartial.
More information about Protasiewicz is available online at JanetForJustice.com and a high-resolution photo is available here.
