Rights, freedoms and democracy are the stated cornerstones of Judge Chris Taylor’s bid for a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. And she touched on all those topics when she visited the Shawano Civic Center on Jan. 21 as a guest speaker at the monthly meeting of the Shawano-Menominee Counties Democratic Party.
“We have a great opportunity on April 7 to expand the majority on our state supreme court that will put the people of Wisconsin first … and protect our democracy and our rights, and make sure that every Wisconsinite has equal access to justice under the law,” she said.
Taylor, a Court of Appeals judge, is running against Maria Lazar, also a Court of Appeals judge, for a 10-year on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Justice Rebecca Bradley is not seeking another term. Election Day is April 7.
Wisconsin Supreme Court elections are nonpartisan, the same as all spring elections. In the last 20 years, races have become more and more partisan. Today, there is typically one candidate aligned with the Democratic Party of Wisconsin — in this instance, Taylor — and one aligned with the Republican Party of Wisconsin, Lazar.
Taylor earned her law degree 30 years ago and then worked in private practice. She served as the law and policy director for Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin from 2003-11. Taylor served in the Wisconsin Legislature from 2011-20, then as a judge on the Dane County Circuit Court from 2020-23. She has been on the Court of Appeals since 2023.
Taylor called Lazar a “right-wing extremist” who adjudicates based on a political agenda.
“As an attorney, she represented the big banks and the predatory lenders during the housing crisis (2007-08),” Taylor said.
Taylor described Lazar as then-Gov. Scott Walker’s attorney who defended his agenda in taking away people’s collective bargaining rights and supporting gerrymandered legislative maps.
Taylor was also critical of Lazar’s action on the Court of Appeals.
“She released a decision — thankfully it was overturned — that said some people’s private voting data could be released to the public,” Taylor said.
Liberal judges are often accused of legislating from the bench, but Taylor turned the tables on Lazar when asked how she defends herself against such remarks.
“I’ve been in the public eye since 2011,” Taylor said. “I have a long, 15-year career, and what you can see is what my priority is. It’s making sure that people get access to justice.”
Taylor said her commitment to the rights of everyday Wisconsinites has garnered wide statewide support.
“If you want to see legislating from the bench, you can look at her (Lazar),” Taylor said. “She has been reversed by the state Supreme Court for not applying the law.”
Taylor cited Lazar’s decision to release private voting data.
“She didn’t follow the law, and she pursued a political agenda,” Taylor said. “You can look at my cases. I am meticulous in applying the law. I have never been reversed – never, not as a trial court judge, not on the Court of Appeals. I very much care about getting it right for the people.”
Taylor said Wisconsin needs a strong court to stand up to the federal government and hold other branches of government accountable.
“We can get our state government and our state judiciary in the strongest position possible to defend our state, our rights, our elections and our democracy,” she said. “That’s what I will do.”
She talked extensively about her concerns about rights, freedoms and democracy. She called the right to peacefully protest “as American as apple pie” in reference to recent actions by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Minneapolis and other cities.
“Courts should not be political, but judges should be committed to justice,” Taylor said.
kpasson@newmedia-wi.com
