The column below reflects the views of the author, and these opinions are neither endorsed nor supported by WisOpinion.com.

Words matter. Recently, sensationalized headlines have twisted my comments to suggest I am seeking to change Wisconsin’s abortion laws. Let me be clear: I am a jurist, not a politician. I am not running to impose a heartbeat bill from the bench, and any insinuation to the contrary is false. While I have been honest about my personal values as a mother, those feelings do not dictate my rulings. My role is to follow the law, not to legislate from the bench.

I am the first judicial candidate to state a clear position on this complex issue of abortion. The people of Wisconsin deserve to know exactly where I stand. As a judge, my personal views, which include the fact that abortion is not something I would have contemplated for myself, make no difference in my role on the bench. I honor my oath to never legislate from the bench.

Last year, the State Supreme Court of Wisconsin affirmed that abortion is legal in our state with the existing 20-week compromise. Our law provides exceptions beyond that time for the life of the mother and in instances of rape and incest. That is the law of this state. It will remain in place unless the Legislature, as the people’s representatives, enacts a change. This issue belongs in the hands of the people.

The law is settled on abortion in Wisconsin with a 20-week compromise. The issue has been resolved as far as the judiciary is concerned. I follow and uphold the law, and I will continue to do so. Do not be swayed by reports to the contrary that attempt to paint my comments as a push for new abortion bans. I am disappointed, but unfortunately not surprised, that our current media institutions often prioritize sensationalism over a simple reporting of the facts.

My position has been public for over a month, centered on three commitments:

(1) to never legislate from the bench;

(2) to provide clarity on the existing 20-week compromise on abortion; and

(3) to lower the temperature on this emotional issue.

We need stability and certainty in Wisconsin, and that is precisely what I intend to provide.

In direct contrast to my transparency, my opponent, who served as a Policy Advisor for Planned Parenthood, has been oddly silent. She has no written position and has not shared her stance with the voters. Does my opponent still support removing all restrictions on abortion like she did as a politician in 2017? Will she legislate from the bench? These are questions the voters should be asking.

I am a mother and a jurist. While my personal values are important to me, they are separate from my judicial duty. I am not a politician running to implement a personal agenda; I am a judge seeking to protect the integrity of our courts. I urge the voters of Wisconsin to do their own research, examine my public statements directly, and look beyond the false narratives. I will always stand by the law.

Lazar is Court of Appeals District II judge and a candidate for Wisconsin Supreme Court

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