MADISON, Wis. — A conservative Wisconsin Supreme Court justice first elected in 2007 announced Monday that she will not seek a third 10-year term next year, giving liberals another chance to expand their majority as cases affecting redistricting, union rights, school funding and other hot-button issues await.
Justice Annette Ziegler, 62, becomes the second conservative justice in as many years to decide against seeking reelection after liberals took majority control of Wisconsin’s highest court in 2023.
“Now is the right time for me to step away to spend more time with my husband, kids and grandkids,” she said in a statement. “I am incredibly proud that in all my elections I had support from a broad spectrum of legal, civic, law enforcement and political leaders — both Democrats and Republicans — who believed in my commitment to fairness, ethics and the rule of law.”
Liberals held onto their majority last year in a race that broke national spending records and saw billionaire Elon Musk traveling to the state to hand out $1 million checks to conservative voters.
There’s another election on April 7 for the open seat caused by conservative Justice Rebecca Bradley’s decision not to run for reelection. The liberal candidate, Appeals Court Judge Chris Taylor, has outraised her conservative opponent, fellow Appeals Court Judge Maria Lazar, allowing her to spend more on television ads in what so far has been a low-profile race, given that the court’s majority is not on the line.
Liberals are seeking to win their fourth Supreme Court race in a row dating back to 2020 and solidify their hold on the court.
Justice Ziegler’s decision to step down means there will be another open race next year. If liberals win this year, their majority would increase to 5-2, and in 2027, they could grow it to 6-1. If the conservative candidate wins this year, the liberal majority would remain 4-3, and next year the best conservatives could do would be to keep it at 4-3.
Justice Ziegler consistently sided with fellow conservative justices, including in 2020 when the court fell one vote short of overturning President Trump’s election loss that year. Justice Ziegler was in the minority after a conservative swing justice sided with liberals.
Cases expected to come before the court in the coming years include challenges to congressional district maps, the future of a state law that effectively ended collective bargaining for most public workers and an effort to increase spending on public schools.
Liberals have struck down a state abortion ban law and ordered new legislative maps since taking control of the court, fueling Democrats’ hopes of capturing a majority this November.
Justice Ziegler, who was chief justice between 2021 and 2025, previously served as a circuit court judge in Washington County for 10 years.
The election to replace Justice Ziegler is on April 6, 2027.
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