The Wisconsin Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on the validity of an 1849 abortion ban, with liberal justices likely to favor abortion rights. The ban, which predates the Civil War, was nullified by Roe v. Wade but never repealed. After Roe was overturned, conservatives argued for its enforceability. Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul contends a 1985 law allowing pre-viability abortions supersedes the ban. A Dane County judge ruled the ban doesn't apply to consensual abortions, prompting Planned Parenthood to resume services. The court's decision is expected in weeks.
Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Ann Walsh Bradley has announced that she will not seek re-election when her term ends in July 2025, stating that it's time to pass the torch and bring fresh perspectives to the court. Her decision means that Gov. Tony Evers will not be appointing a replacement to serve the remainder of her term, and it also opens up the opportunity for control of the court to be up for grabs once again. Bradley, who has served on the court since 1995, became the first woman to be elected, rather than appointed, to the court.
Former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy praised the Supreme Court's unanimous ruling against Colorado's removal of former President Trump from the 2024 ballot, warning of potential implications within the decision. He suggested that the liberal justices' concurrence may indicate a future shift in their stance on Trump-related cases. Ramaswamy also highlighted upcoming cases involving Trump and emphasized the long-term consequences of attempts to exclude candidates from the ballot, emphasizing the importance of preserving the nation's democratic process.
Former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy praised the Supreme Court's 9-0 ruling against Colorado's removal of former President Trump from the 2024 ballot, warning that the decision may have implications for future Trump-related cases. Ramaswamy highlighted the potential impact on national unity and criticized attempts to exclude Trump from the ballot, emphasizing the importance of democratic processes. He also noted the liberal justices' concurrence as a signal of potential future directions in related cases.
The Supreme Court's conservative majority has flexed its muscles in the latest term, making decisions that highlight the sharp political and ideological divides on the bench. The conservative justices blocked Joe Biden's student loan forgiveness plan, barred US universities from considering race in admissions, and allowed creative professionals to refuse work promoting gay marriage. However, there have been some surprises, with conservative justices siding with liberals on certain issues. The court's upcoming term will feature cases that could further limit the power of the federal government, potentially setting a precedent that makes it harder for presidents to achieve policy goals.
Democratic lawmakers have recently criticized conservative Supreme Court justices over ethical matters, particularly Justice Clarence Thomas, who allegedly received gifts from a Republican mega-donor and failed to report them. However, Democrats have overlooked issues involving liberal justices in the past, including proximity to Democratic mega-donors, omitting trips and reimbursements, failing to recuse themselves from cases involving companies in which they had financial stakes, and cases concerning issues they had worked on in the past. Retired Justice Stephen Breyer, who maintained close ties to the wealthy Chicago-based Pritzker family, took more trips than any other Supreme Court justice from 2004 to 2018, many of which were supported by the Pritzker family, known for their generous contributions to Democratic causes.
