Liberal Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Says She Won't Run Again, Setting Up Fight For Control

Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Ann Walsh Bradley says she won't seek another term, setting up a high-stakes fight for control of the state’s highest court.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The longest-serving current Wisconsin Supreme Court justice and member of its liberal majority announced Thursday that she will not seek another term, setting up a high-stakes fight for control of the battleground state’s highest court.

Justice Ann Walsh Bradley’s decision comes as a surprise after she had previously said she would seek a fourth 10-year term. It shakes up the race on the liberal side as they seek to maintain the majority they just won last year.

At least two current liberal judges — Dane County Circuit Judge Susan Crawford and state Appeals Court Judge Chris Taylor — are considering getting in the race.

Former Republican Attorney General Brad Schimel, currently a Waukesha County judge, is the only announced candidate, having gotten in the race in November.

The primary is Feb. 18 and the general election is April 1, just under a year away.