Republicans in Wisconsin are threatening to remove from office the newly elected state supreme court justice Janet Protasiewicz if she refuses to recuse herself from cases involving gerrymandering. The effort comes on the heels of Republicans in the state senate advancing a move to oust the state’s top elections official.
The efforts to remove Protasiewicz and the Wisconsin elections commission administrator, Meagan Wolfe, from office have been decried by Democrats and government watchdog groups as undemocratic and could affect the administration of elections in 2024.
Protasiewicz won her election in April in a landslide – an uncommon victory in Wisconsin, where statewide elections are often determined by narrow margins. The race drew massive spending for both sides, with outlays by special interest groups and campaign contributions topping $45m, making the race the most expensive state judicial election in US history.
During the campaign, Protasiewicz spoke with unusual candor about her views on policy issues including abortion and redistricting, calling the state’s legislative maps “rigged”. Her approach drew criticism from conservatives during the race and in the immediate aftermath of her victory, when Republicans first floated the possibility of impeachment.
