E-Update: Supreme Court Reforms and the Personal Protection Act July 8, 2011



Supreme Court Reform

Yesterday, I introduced legislation, along with Representative Tyler August (R-Walworth), to reform the way the Wisconsin Supreme Court chief justice is chosen. Presently, the chief justice is simply the longest serving member of the Court. Wisconsin is one of only six states that selects the chief justice based exclusively on seniority.

As a result of my legislation, each member of the Supreme Court would elect one of its members to serve as justice following every election or reelection of a Supreme Court justice. Just as the Legislature chooses the speaker of the Assembly and the majority leader of the Senate, this change is to ensure the chief justice is the person who the majority of justices believe to be best suited to lead the court. At least 20 other states select their chief justice in this manner.

Others have recently put forward Supreme Court reforms that would end the election of justices by Wisconsin voters. I am convinced we need more input from voters and elections, not less, and believe electing the chief justice can improve the operations of the Supreme Court.

Personal Protection Act

This afternoon, Governor Scott Walker signed the concealed carry legislation I helped usher through the Legislature. Prior to today, Wisconsin and Illinois were the only states that did not allow law-abiding citizens to carry concealed weapons for self-defense purposes.

With the signing of this law, Wisconsin citizens are now able to join the 48 other states in being able to exercise this fundamental right. In the coming months, the Department of Justice is responsible for implementing the new law, and it is scheduled to be in full effect this fall.

Photo of Concealed Carry Bill Signing
Senator Zipperer (second from right), Governor Walker, and others following the signing
of the Personal Protection Act today in Wausau.


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Sen.Zipperer@legis.wisconsin.gov State Capitol Room 323 South - P.O. Box 7882, Madison, WI 53707-7882 Telephone: (608) 266-9174
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