{"id":2577866,"date":"2026-03-09T17:15:57","date_gmt":"2026-03-09T21:15:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wisconsin-supreme-court-loses-second-conservative-justice-to-retirement\/"},"modified":"2026-03-09T17:17:33","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T21:17:33","slug":"wisconsin-supreme-court-loses-second-conservative-justice-to-retirement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wisconsin-supreme-court-loses-second-conservative-justice-to-retirement\/","title":{"rendered":"Wisconsin Supreme Court loses second conservative justice to retirement"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fwisconsin-supreme-court-loses-second-conservative-justice-to-retirement%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2577866&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Justice Annette Ziegler, a conservative on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, said she will retire in 2027 and not seek a third 10-year term, citing a desire to spend more time with her family. Her departure could tilt the court toward the liberal majority, which currently holds a 4-3 edge. The retirement comes as conservative appointee Maria Lazar faces a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fake-kamala-got-loomered-laura-loomer-catches-kamala-harris-body-double-at-palm-beach-polling-place-video-photos\/\" title=\"FAKE KAMALA GOT LOOMERED! --Laura Loomer Catches Kamala Harris BODY DOUBLE at Palm Beach Polling Place! (VIDEO -PHOTOS)\">tight race<\/a> with wisconsin Court of Appeals Judge Chris Taylor to replace retiring conservative Justice Rebecca Bradley, a contest that could influence the court\u2019s ideological balance. Democrats praised Ziegler\u2019s decision as a liberal win and a chance to push their agenda, noting the election to fill her seat is set for april 6, 2027. Lazar, who trails in fundraising to Taylor, argues she would bring independence and collegiality to the court, even as she faces challenges in <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >securing broad support<\/a>.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Wisconsin Supreme Court loses second <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/supreme-court-calls-new-yorks-covid-19-restrictions-discriminatory-sides-with-religious-leaders\/\" title=\"... Calls New York\u2019s COVID-19 Restrictions \u2018Discriminatory,\u2019 Sides With Religious Leaders\">conservative justice<\/a> with Annette Ziegler retirement<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2472625\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>A conservative justice on the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/wisconsin\/\">Wisconsin<\/a> Supreme Court on Monday announced plans to retire, which could further tilt the balance of power in favor of the court&rsquo;s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/democratic-party\/\">liberal <\/a>majority.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Justice Annette Ziegler, 62, said she would not seek a third 10-year term in 2027, citing a desire to spend more time with her family. The development comes as Republicans are already at risk of losing ground on the court as conservative appellate Judge <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3832245\/first-conservative-candidate-wisconsin-supreme-court-race-incumbent-bows-out\/\">Maria Lazar<\/a> is in a tight battle with Wisconsin Court of Appeals Judge Chris Taylor to replace retiring conservative Justice Rebecca Bradley.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/4485075\/whistleblower-says-cbp-chief-targeted-senior-staff-political-vendettas\/\">Whistleblower says CBP chief targeted senior staff over &#8216;political vendettas&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4485305\/anthropic-sues-trump-admin-national-security-risk-label\/\">Anthropic sues Trump administration over national security risk label<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4484881\/judge-voids-voice-of-america-layoffs-trump-appointment-kari-lake\/\">Judge voids Voice of America layoffs, citing invalid Trump appointment of Kari Lake<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Ziegler issued a bipartisan message this week to round out her announcement, saying she is &ldquo;incredibly proud that in all my elections I had support from a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-cabinet-pick-in-doubt-after-senate-committees-postpone-hearings\/\" title=\"Biden Cabinet Pick In Doubt After Senate Committees Postpone Hearings\">broad spectrum<\/a> of legal, civic, law enforcement and political leaders &ndash; both Democrats and Republicans &ndash; who believed in my commitment to fairness, ethics and the rule of law.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Now is the right time for me to step away to spend more time with my husband, kids, and grandkids,&rdquo; she said in a statement.<\/p>\n<p>Liberals already hold a 4-3 advantage on the court. Should Lazar lose in November, they would gain further momentum, while Ziegler&rsquo;s retirement update adds a new twist to Wisconsin&rsquo;s judicial outlook.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>State Democrats swiftly took the offensive on Monday, touting Ziegeler&rsquo;s announcement as a victory for liberals and an opportunity to expand the party&rsquo;s agenda. The election to replace Ziegler is on April 6, 2027.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Wisconsin Republicans know a resounding rejection of their war on working people in service of their billionaire owners is coming this November and are heading for early retirement,&rdquo; Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Devin Remiker said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Ziegler&rsquo;s retirement is more proof that this is a five-alarm fire for the GOP and is a testament to the incredible work that WisDems and our grassroots leaders across Wisconsin have done to organize everywhere and take no election for granted,&rdquo; he continued.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4451657\/mike-lawler-endorses-saritha-komatireddy-new-york-attorney-general\/\"><strong>MIKE LAWLER BACKS CONSERVATIVE CHALLENGER TO LETITIA JAMES IN NEW YORK ATTORNEY GENERAL RACE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Lazar is at a fundraising disadvantage <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/BrianSchimming\/status\/2031070240562430036\">to Taylor<\/a> ahead of the November election, and has focused her message on judicial independence as she seeks to peel voters from her Democrat-backed opponent.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I am the one on my court that sort of solves the disputes, and I think that on the Supreme Court I would be the same way,&rdquo; she said at a February forum hosted by the Marquette University School of Law. &ldquo;I know that it would be 3-4, and I know that I&rsquo;d be in the minority with the more <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-jr-tells-gop-to-get-tough-if-democrats-are-playing-hardball-then-we-got-to-play-hardball\/\" title=\"Trump Jr. Tells GOP To Get Tough: If ... Are \u2018Playing Hardball\u2019 Then \u2018We Got To Play Hardball\u2019\">conservative leaning<\/a> than liberal leaning, and I get that. But the decisions aren&rsquo;t all 4-to-3. I mean, sometimes they&rsquo;re 7-0 or 6-1, and I just think that I would bring a level of collegiality, a level of really hard dedication and work.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ziegler to retire, shifting WI Supreme Court left<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3142,"featured_media":2577867,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP25092097815370.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[4539,4151,7620,70735,4124],"class_list":["post-2577866","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-conservatives","tag-judiciary","tag-retirement","tag-supreme-court-2","tag-wisconsin"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP25092097815370.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2577866","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3142"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2577866"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2577866\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2577870,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2577866\/revisions\/2577870"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2577867"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2577866"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2577866"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2577866"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}