Critical Analysis

1. According to the data from the visual above, how much outside spending (money from outside of Wisconsin was spent) on Wisconsin Supreme Court races in 2003?

2. According to the data from the visual above, how much total money was spent on Wisconsin Supreme Court races in 2003?

3. According to the data from the visual above, how much total money was spent on Wisconsin Supreme Court races in 2023?

4. Describe the change over time in Supreme Court spending in Wisconsin since 2003.

5. In yesterday’s election, Democratic-backed Judge Janet Protasiewicz won a Wisconsin Supreme Court Supreme Court seat, giving liberals their first majority on the court in 15 years ahead of potential fights on abortion, congressional redistricting and election administration. Why do you think so much money was spent on the 2023 Wisconsin Supreme Court election?

6. Explain how the 2010 Citizens United ruling impacted the data from the visual above and yesterday’s race.

7. In Federalist No. 78, Alexander Hamilton explained the need for an independent judiciary, saying that the federal courts "were designed to be an intermediate body between the people and their legislature" in order to ensure that the people's representatives acted only within the authority given to Congress under the Constitution. How does the election of Supreme Court Justices in Wisconsin undermine Hamilton’s foundational concept of judicial independence.

8. How does the Wisconsin Supreme Court election illustrate the concept of federalism?

9. According to the visual below, how many states have elections for state courts?*

10. Make a claim about how American politics would change if we voted on our national Supreme Court.

Learning Extension

Action Extension

Contact Judge Janet Protasiewicz and let her know how you think she should rule on the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Visual Extension*