How the Wisconsin Supreme Court Works
The Wisconsin Supreme Court is the state’s highest court, with 7 justices elected to 10-year terms. Each term starts on August 1 after the election, and the state constitution allows only one justice to be elected in any year (Wis. Const. art. VII, sec. 4). Elections are nonpartisan and held at the spring election, on the first Tuesday in April (Wis. Stat. 5.02(21)).
Key facts
- Chris Taylor won the April 7, 2026 election with 60.1% of the vote and joined the court on August 1, 2026 (Ballotpedia).
- The next election is April 6, 2027, for an open seat; Justice Annette Kingsland Ziegler’s term ends July 31, 2027 (Ballotpedia).
- Candidates and outside groups spent more than $100 million in the 2025 race, according to WisPolitics as reported by Ballotpedia (Ballotpedia).
- When a seat opens early, the governor appoints a justice, who must then run at the next spring election without another court race (Wisconsin Court System).
The justices choose their own chief justice, for a 2-year term, by majority vote. The chief justice runs the state court system, and any 4 justices can decide a case (Wis. Const. art. VII, secs. 4(1) to 4(3)). The court hears appeals from every lower court and can take some cases directly, called original actions.
Wisconsin Supreme Court Justices
Jill J. Karofsky is chief justice, and every member of the court was elected by voters. The table lists each justice in order of first election, from the court’s own biographies.
The seven Wisconsin Supreme Court justices
Source: Wisconsin Court System justice biographies, read October 3, 2026
The 2026 Wisconsin Supreme Court Election
Chris Taylor defeated Maria S. Lazar on April 7, 2026, 60.1% to 39.8%, a margin of 305,234 votes. The seat was Rebecca Grassl Bradley's seat (she did not run again). The February primary was canceled; only two candidates filed. Taylor previously served on the Court of Appeals, and Lazar was a Court of Appeals judge in District II (Ballotpedia).
Certified results, last two Wisconsin Supreme Court elections
Source: Ballotpedia, certified results; totals include write-in votes
These races draw national money even though the ballot lists no party. Candidates and outside groups spent more than $100 million in 2025 and more than $56 million in 2023, according to WisPolitics as reported by Ballotpedia, which calls them the most expensive judicial races in U.S. history (Ballotpedia).
The April 2027 Wisconsin Supreme Court Election
The next election, on April 6, 2027, is for Annette Kingsland Ziegler's seat, and no incumbent is running. If more than two candidates file, a primary is held on February 16, 2027. As of October 3, 2026, Ballotpedia lists Lyndsey Boon Brunette and Pedro A. Colón as candidates (Ballotpedia). The winner takes office August 1, 2027.
To vote in April 2027, register by March 17, 2027 online or by mail, or register in person, including at your polling place on election day (Wis. Stat. 6.28). Wisconsin voters show photo ID at the polls (Wis. Stat. 5.02(6m)). You can check your registration and find your polling place at MyVote Wisconsin.
Major Wisconsin Supreme Court Rulings Since 2023
Since 2023 the court has decided cases on legislative maps, drop boxes, abortion and the balance of power between the governor and the Legislature. Each ruling below is stated as the opinion holds, with the justices who wrote and joined the majority.
- Clarke v. Wisconsin Elections Commission State legislative districts must be made of physically adjoining territory.
- Priorities USA v. Wisconsin Elections Commission State law allows ballot drop boxes.
- Kaul v. Urmanski Fifty years of later abortion laws impliedly repealed the 1849 statute as to abortion, so it does not ban abortion in Wisconsin.
- Evers v. Marklein A legislative committee's power to pause, object to or suspend agency rules without passing a law violates the state constitution's requirement that laws pass both houses and go to the governor..
- Bothfeld v. Wisconsin Elections Commission In a challenge to the congressional map, the court appointed a panel of three circuit judges to hear the case under the state's redistricting venue law, with hearings in Dane County..
- Wisconsin State Legislature v. Kaul The attorney general complies with state law when he deposits uncommitted settlement money into the general fund and credits it to program appropriations.
Source: Wisconsin Supreme Court opinions on wicourts.gov.
Major Wisconsin Supreme Court rulings, 2023 to 2026: 2023: Clarke v. Wisconsin Elections Commission (State legislative districts must be made of physically adjoining territory.). 2024: Priorities USA v. Wisconsin Elections Commission (State law allows ballot drop boxes.). 2025: Kaul v. Urmanski (Fifty years of later abortion laws impliedly repealed the 1849 statute as to abortion, so it does not ban abortion in Wisconsin.). 2025: Evers v. Marklein (A legislative committee's power to pause, object to or suspend agency rules without passing a law violates the state constitution's requirement that laws pass both houses and go to the governor..). 2025: Bothfeld v. Wisconsin Elections Commission (In a challenge to the congressional map, the court appointed a panel of three circuit judges to hear the case under the state's redistricting venue law, with hearings in Dane County..). 2026: Wisconsin State Legislature v. Kaul (The attorney general complies with state law when he deposits uncommitted settlement money into the general fund and credits it to program appropriations.).
What each ruling held
Source: Opinions on wicourts.gov, read October 3, 2026
December 22, 2023: Clarke v. Wisconsin Elections Commission (Karofsky, joined by Ann Walsh Bradley, Dallet and Protasiewicz). Read the opinion.
July 5, 2024: Priorities USA v. Wisconsin Elections Commission (Ann Walsh Bradley, joined by Dallet, Karofsky and Protasiewicz). Read the opinion.
July 2, 2025: Kaul v. Urmanski (Dallet, joined by Karofsky, Ann Walsh Bradley and Protasiewicz). Read the opinion.
July 8, 2025: Evers v. Marklein (Karofsky, joined by Ann Walsh Bradley, Dallet and Protasiewicz). Read the opinion.
November 25, 2025: Bothfeld v. Wisconsin Elections Commission (Order of the court). Read the opinion.
July 10, 2026: Wisconsin State Legislature v. Kaul (Dallet, joined by Karofsky, Protasiewicz and Crawford). Read the opinion.
Wisconsin Supreme Court Questions
Who won the 2026 Wisconsin Supreme Court election?
Chris Taylor won on April 7, 2026 with 60.1% of the vote, defeating Maria S. Lazar. The results are certified, and Taylor joined the court on August 1, 2026.
When is the next Wisconsin Supreme Court election?
April 6, 2027, with a primary on February 16, 2027 if more than two candidates file. The seat is Annette Kingsland Ziegler’s seat, whose term ends July 31, 2027, and no incumbent is running. Online registration closes March 17, 2027.
Who are the Wisconsin Supreme Court justices?
Jill J. Karofsky (chief justice), Annette Kingsland Ziegler, Rebecca Frank Dallet, Brian Hagedorn, Janet C. Protasiewicz, Susan M. Crawford and Chris Taylor.
How are Wisconsin Supreme Court justices chosen?
Voters elect them in nonpartisan elections held on the first Tuesday in April, for 10-year terms, and only one justice can be elected in a year. If a seat opens early, the governor appoints a justice, who must then run at the next spring election without another court race.
What You Can Do
- Check your registration at MyVote Wisconsin before March 17, 2027, the online deadline for the April 6, 2027 election.
- Read the opinions yourself. Every ruling above links to the full text on the court’s site.
- Learn how state courts check the other branches in our judicial review guide.
- Vote on November 3, 2026, too. See our Wisconsin governor race guide.