Voters Open to Reform after Multi-Million Dollar, Partisan Judicial Elections
Delafield, Wis. – The Institute for Reforming Government’s (IRG)‘s Court Watch initiative released a report, Structural Reform of Judicial Selection in Wisconsin, detailing potential structural reforms to strengthen judicial integrity and public trust in Wisconsin Courts on Wednesday.
The report examines potential reforms to the current system of judicial elections, now among the most expensive and politicized in the nation, and highlights polling data showing that voters are ready for a conversation about change.
THE NEWS: The report, authored by IRG Adjunct Legal Fellow Daniel Suhr and IRG General Counsel Jake Curtis, details multiple paths for reform, including regional judicial elections, changes to the chief justice selection process, and possible adoption of an appointment-and-confirmation model similar to the federal system.
WHY IT MATTERS: The April 2025 state Supreme Court race shattered records with over $100 million in spending, underscoring the growing influence of political parties and outside money. Polling conducted by IRG in partnership with Scott Rasmussen’s Napolitan News Service shows that 60% of Wisconsin voters believe the state should consider reforms to how judges are selected.
THE QUOTE:
“With much of Wisconsin fed up with how we elect judges, it’s time for Wisconsin to consider serious structural reforms to our state’s courts,” said Daniel Suhr, Adjunct Legal Fellow. “Wisconsin voters deserve a judiciary that is independent, ethical, and trusted—and that starts with serious discussion about how we select our judges.”
