Dueling Requests for State Supreme Court Justices to Recuse Themselves From Act 10 Lawsuit

Thursday, January 30th, 2025 -- 12:00 PM

(Wisconsin Radio Network) At the Capitol, competing requests for Wisconsin Supreme Court Justices to recuse themselves.

According to the Wisconsin Radio Network, a lawsuit challenging Wisconsin Act 10, the landmark 2011 law which restricts collective bargaining by public sector unions in the state, will almost certainly come before the court.

When it does, Republican legislative leaders want Justice Janet Protasiewicz to recuse herself. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu filed that motion with the court on Tuesday, citing the liberal justice’s past comments about Act 10.

And Assembly Minority Leader Greta Neubauer and Senate Minority Leader Dianne Hesselbein want conservative Justice Brian Hagedorn to recuse himself. Prior to being elected to the court in 2019, Hagedorn helped draft former Governor Scott Walker’s bill and helped defend the law in court.

The court currently has a 4-3 liberal majority, which could shift depending on the outcome of April’s election between Waukesha County Judge Brad Schimel and Dane County Judge Susan Crawford.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.