LETTER: Protasiewicz is most qualified candidate for state high court

To Ozaukee Press:

I have a friend who until recently voted only in presidential years and then left much blank because she didn’t know who to vote for in lower and yet powerful seats. A nonpartisan Wisconsin Supreme Court judge primary election is on Feb. 21. Two big issues might be coming before the court soon—reproductive rights and gerrymandering.

When I lived in Michigan, I voted to override the legislature and governor through binding referendums. If the legislators are out of touch on an issue, Michigan people take charge, gather petition signatures, and get it on the statewide ballot. That is how Michigan and Kansas recently sealed the right to abortion and how Michigan gained fair maps. Minnesota’s lawmakers recently codified reproductive rights.

We do not have binding referendums in Wisconsin. Since we have gerrymandered districts, our only opportunity to secure reproductive rights may be with our Supreme Court, which has four candidates running in this primary for one seat of a 10-year term. We vote for one. The top two primary winners will be in a runoff in the general election on April 4.

Two of the candidates will not support a woman’s right to body autonomy, nor will they rule for fair maps. As graduates of a conservative Christian law school in Virginia, they do not represent the poll-supported majority point of view.

A third candidate, UW-Madison Law School graduate Judge Everett Mitchell, is a fine juvenile court judge, but I am supporting Janet Protasiewicz, a Marquette Law School graduate. She was a Milwaukee district attorney, aiding victims and prosecuting criminals, and twice elected as a circuit court judge.  She has vowed to be fair in rulings. Fair means human rights for women to choose the option best for them and fair maps.

Judge Protasiewicz and Wisconsin need your vote.

Nancy Camden

Mequon