Plan Would Change How Supreme Court Justices are Seated

7/2/11 – Two members of the Wisconsin Senate think it’s time to quit electing Supreme Court justices. Democrat Tim Cullen of Janesville and Republican Dave Schultz of Richland Center are co-sponsors of bipartisan legislation that would replace those elections with a merit-based system. Change would not be a quick process. The constitutional amendment would have to pass two straight legislative session, then be sent to statewide voters. The approach supported by Cullen and Schultz would create a judicial selection commission, which would recommend five candidates to the governor. He would make an appointment, which would be subject to Senate approval. The two senators will introduce their bill next September.