1995 Wisconsin Supreme Court election
{{Short description|Judicial election in the U.S. state of Wisconsin}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 1995 Wisconsin Supreme Court election
| country = Wisconsin
| type = presidential
| ongoing = No
| previous_election = 1994 Wisconsin Supreme Court election
| previous_year = 1994
| next_election = 1996 Wisconsin Supreme Court election
| next_year = 1996
| election_date = April 4, 1995
| image1 = File:Justice Bradley 2004 (cropped).jpg
| candidate1 = Ann Walsh Bradley
| color1 = c0c0c0
| popular_vote1 = 514,588
| percentage1 = 54.82%
| image2 = Justice Crooks 2009 (cropped).jpg
| candidate2 = N. Patrick Crooks
| color2 = c0c0c0
| popular_vote2 = 424,110
| percentage2 = 45.18%
| map_image = 1995 Wisconsin Supreme Court election results map by county.svg
| map_size = 250px
| map_caption = County results
Bradley: {{legend0|#51C2C2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#2AACAC|60–70%}} {{legend0|#009696|70–80%}}
Crooks: {{legend0|#FF9A50|50–60%}} {{legend0|#EE8E50|60–70%}} {{legend0|#D69850|70–80%}}
| title = Justice
| before_election = Nathan Heffernan
| after_election = Ann Walsh Bradley
| previous_seat_election = 1985 Wisconsin Supreme Court election
| previous_seat_year = 1985
| next_seat_election = 2005 Wisconsin Supreme Court election
| next_seat_year = 2005
}}
{{ElectionsWI}}
The 1995 Wisconsin Supreme Court election was held on April 4, 1995 to elect a justice to the Wisconsin Supreme Court for a ten-year term. The Incumbent justice, Chief Justice Nathan Heffernan, retired after nearly 31 years on the court. Although the Wisconsin Supreme Court justices are considered nonpartisan, Heffernan was identified as a liberal and voted with other liberals on the court.{{Cite web |last=Ball |first=Alan |date=April 5, 2023 |title=A Liberal High-Water Mark? |url=https://scowstats.com/2023/04/05/a-liberal-high-water-mark/ |access-date=March 30, 2025}} Wisconsin circuit court judge Ann Walsh Bradley defeated fellow circuit court judge N. Patrick Crooks.
Primary election
= Candidates =
== Advanced ==
- Ann Walsh Bradley, Circuit court judge for the Marathon County circuit, branch 3{{cite news |last=Thayer |first=Kelly C. |date=April 21, 1994 |title=Bradley announces candidacy |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/wausau-daily-herald-bradley-for-justice/145272947/ |accessdate=April 12, 2024 |newspaper=Wausau Daily Herald |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}}
- N. Patrick Crooks, Circuit court judge for the Brown County circuit, branch 6
== Eliminated in primary ==
- William A. Pangman, attorney
- Patience D. Roggensack, attorney
- Ted E. Wedemeyer Jr., former Judge of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals for District I
== Declined ==
- Nathan Heffernan, incumbent justice
= Primary campaign =
Bradley, a liberal with bipartisan support, attempted to maintain a level of political independence in her campaign. She criticized Crooks' campaign for emphasizing his endorsements from Republican governor Tommy Thompson and members of his administration.{{Cite news |last=Miller |first=Cliff |date=December 19, 1994 |title=Justice candidate wants politics out of race |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-post-crescent-bradley-independent/145273251/ |accessdate=April 12, 2024 |newspaper=The Post-Crescent |page=3 |via=Newspapers.com}} In response, Bradley touted her own set of bipartisan support and endorsements, which included former Democratic governor Tony Earl and Sue Ann Thompson – Tommy Thompson's wife. In addition, Bradley criticized attempts to polarize the race along party lines, arguing that the most qualified person should be the one to get the nomination.
= Primary results =
[[File:1995 Wisconsin Supreme Court primary election results map by county.svg|thumb|Primary results by county:{{collapsible list
| title = {{legend|#51C2C2|Bradley}}|{{legend|#ACF2F2|Bradley—30–40%}}|{{legend|#7DDDDD|Bradley—40–50%}}|{{legend|#51C2C2|Bradley—50–60%}}|{{legend|#2AACAC|Bradley—60–70%}}|{{legend|#009696|Bradley—70–80%}}|{{legend|#008080|Bradley—80–90%}}
}}{{collapsible list
| title = {{legend|#FFB580|Crooks}}|{{legend|#FFCCA9|Crooks—30–40%}}|{{legend|#FFB580|Crooks—40–50%}}|{{legend|#EE8E50|Crooks—60–70%}}
}}{{collapsible list
| title = {{legend|#FFC5DA|Wedemeyer}}|{{legend|#FFC5DA|Wedemeyer—30–40%}}
}}]]
{{Election box begin no party no change|title=1995 Wisconsin Supreme Court primary election{{cite report|chapter-url=http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/WI.WIBlueBk1995 |title=State of Wisconsin 1995-1996 Blue Book |publisher= State of Wisconsin |year= 1995 |location= Madison, Wisconsin |editor-last= Barish |editor-first=Lawrence S. |chapter=Elections in Wisconsin |page= [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AYPHDP7TNI56WH8E/full/ALNRAFSVH4XW4H8V 879] |accessdate= March 30, 2025}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate no party no change|candidate=Ann Walsh Bradley|votes=131,889|percentage=38.85%}}
{{Election box winning candidate no party no change|candidate=N. Patrick Crooks|votes=88,913|percentage=26.19%}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change|candidate=Ted E. Wedemeyer Jr.|votes=64,668|percentage=19.05%}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change|candidate=Patience D. Roggensack|votes=41,303|percentage=12.16%}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change|candidate=William A. Pangman|votes=12,753|percentage=3.76%}}
{{Election box total no party no change|votes=339,526|percentage=100.0%}}
{{Election box end}}
General election
= General campaign =
After advancing to the general election, Bradley reiterated her desire to see the race politicized by her opponents.{{Cite news |last=Segall |first=Cary |date=February 19, 1995 |title=Bradley: three long years stressing judicial credentials |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-bradley-justice/145274231/ |accessdate=April 12, 2024 |newspaper=Wisconsin State Journal |page=10 |via=Newspapers.com}} During the campaign, Bradley was identified as a liberal and had gained the endorsements of several liberal judges in the state. During the campaign, Crooks identified himself as a conservative, and was aligned with Republicans, who worked on his campaign.
= Results =
{{Election box begin no party|title=1995 Wisconsin Supreme Court general election{{cite report|chapter-url=http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/WI.WIBlueBk1995 |title=State of Wisconsin 1995-1996 Blue Book |publisher= State of Wisconsin |year= 1995 |location= Madison, Wisconsin |editor-last= Barish |editor-first=Lawrence S. |chapter=Elections in Wisconsin |pages= [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AYPHDP7TNI56WH8E/full/ADEOIV6OCDDRIC9E 883]-[https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AYPHDP7TNI56WH8E/full/AB2UMOXUCJLUJJ8O 884] |accessdate= March 30, 2025}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate no party|candidate=Ann Walsh Bradley|votes=514,588|percentage=54.82%|change=N/A}}
{{Election box candidate no party|candidate=N. Patrick Crooks|votes=424,110|percentage=45.18%|change=N/A}}
{{Election box majority no party|votes=90,478|percentage=9.64%|change= }}
{{Election box total no party|votes=938,698|percentage=100.0%|change= }}
{{Election box end}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
{{1995 United States elections}}
{{Wisconsin Supreme Court elections}}