Justice Pat Roggensack will defend her seat Tuesday against Marquette University law professor Ed Fallone in an attempt to earn a second 10-year term on the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
Throughout the campaign, Fallone has been critical of what he considers a highly dysfunctional court, pointing to a June 2011 incident in which Justice David Prosser placed his hands around the neck of a fellow justice during an argument over a case. Fallone has also said he believes he can bring a truly independent voice, free of political bias, to the bench.
However, Roggensack has brushed off Fallone’s criticism, arguing the election should be about her own performance as a justice, not the court as a whole. She has also stressed her experience as a judge, which Fallone does not have, and pledged to continue deciding cases in a fair and neutral manner.
Roggensack enters Election Day as the favorite after earning 64 percent of the vote in a Feb. 19 primary to Fallone’s 30 percent. Roggensack has also maintained a steady financial advantage over her challenger, raising more than $536,000 for her re-election bid while Fallone has brought in around $320,000.
While the election is officially nonpartisan, Roggensack has enjoyed the support of groups and donors that traditionally align with Republicans, while Democratic-leaning organizations have backed Fallone.
Last week, the Government Accountability Board projected statewide turnout for the election will be approximately 20 percent, which is the average for a spring election.
