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Ziegler and Clifford face-off for Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice
Experience, conflicts of interest issues at the forefront
By Dan Polley
Ziegler has attacked Clifford for never serving as a judge. Clifford, however, points to previous Supreme Court justices, including Shirley Abramson, and said there has been a history of Supreme Court justices who did not have previous judicial experience.
Wisconsin voters tomorrow will choose who will supersede retiring Justice Jon P. Wilcox for a spot on the Wisconsin Supreme Court for the next 10 years.
The two candidates, Annette Ziegler and Linda Clifford, have been entangled in a hotly contested, non-partisan race that has included a partisan tone, charges of impropriety and activity from outside groups.
Ziegler is a Washington County Circuit judge who has ties to Republicans. Clifford is a Madison attorney for Godfrey, LaFollette & Kahn.
Ziegler has attacked Clifford for never serving as a judge. Clifford, however, points to previous Supreme Court justices, including Shirley Abramson, and said there has been a history of Supreme Court justices who did not have previous judicial experience.
Im the only person who has sat as a trial court judge, Ziegler said at a recent debate. Last week, retiring Justice Wilcox endorsed Ziegler for the seat.
A Ziegler campaign spokeswoman said the endorsement is lift for the campaign.
We are very proud to have the endorsement of Justice Jon Wilcox. Its a great honor to have his support, said Marci VanAdestine, a Ziegler campaign spokesperson.
As Ive watched the campaign unfold, Wilcox wrote in the campaign release, it is very clear to me that Judge Ziegler is the candidate of choice for those of us who believe judges should interpret and apply the law as it is written “ not legislate from the bench.
But a Clifford spokeswoman said the move is not a blow to Cliffords campaign.
Its not unusual for Justice Wilcox to do that. He was known for the same judicial philosophy as Ziegler, said Nicholl Caruso, Cliffords campaign manager.
In the primary on Feb. 20, Ziegler won 57 percent of the vote, while Clifford took in 27 percent.
Meanwhile, Ziegler has been attacked by Clifford and outside groups for her role as a judge. Those groups, including the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, have said that Ziegler has failed to disclose her relationship to West Bend Savings Bank in cases she has presided over.
Zieglers husband is on the banks board of directors. Ziegler has said that most of those cases resulted in defaults, meaning she never had to adjudicate them.
The Wisconsin Democracy Campaign filed a complaint with the Wisconsin Judicial Commission on the matter. The meetings of the commission are closed, but parties can open up the proceedings to the public. And the Clifford campaign has said thats the best way for Ziegler to ease the situation.
Weve asked Judge Ziegler to make her response public. She hasnt done that. Its really on Judge Ziegler to make this info public, Caruso said.
VanAdestine said on behalf of Ziegler, if the Commission takes up any action, Ziegler would be open to making proceedings public.
She would welcome an independent review of her record and it would show she has nothing to hide, VanAndestine said.
The race has also seen a proliferation of outside groups who have produced ads and other attention against the other side. While both candidates have said the partisan tone of the campaign should not be tolerated, neither has made an effort to halt outside groups.
This race also is one of the most expensive in Wisconsin history. In part as a response to the race, state Reps. Gordon Hintz (D-Oshkosh) and Steven Hilgenberg (D-Dodgeville) will introduce a bill to allow for public financing of Supreme Court races.
Caruso said the state could look into public financing for Supreme Court races in the future.
This is a really good place to start with the states highest court, Caruso said.
VanAdestine said that the special interest groups that have interceded on behalf of Clifford have forced Ziegler to spend more in the campaign.
She didnt want outside special interests, VanAdestine said.
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