The April 7, 2026 election for the next Justice on the Wisconsin Supreme Court will be here in less than five months and I have already identified the “best pick” that will get my active support until then and my vote on Election Day!

Judge Maria S. Lazar, currently on the Wisconsin Court of Appeals (District II), and formerly a Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge, is my clear choice to replace retiring Justice Rebecca Bradley on Wisconsin’s Supreme Court. Lazar used the terms independent and impartial when talking about her striving to follow the law and the Constitution in every decision she makes. I would add informed and experienced.

Judge Lazar’s campaign site answers the question “Why?” with “It’s time to restore justice and impartiality to our courts”. She is concerned with the political direction of the judicial elections from the political ads to the out-of-state money. She further states “We must stop the politicization of our courts.” Her commitment to justice is summarized “Fair Maps. Fair Courts. A Fair Wisconsin.” (Her website has a page long comprehensive but clear discussion about this!) Other comments gleaned from Lazar’s webpage include “voters deserve a clear view of how a justice thinks and decides” and “believes in fairness of Constitution and separation of powers”.

For almost two decades after law school Lazar worked as an attorney in civil litigation in Milwaukee. Her next professional effort was as an assistant Attorney General in the Wisconsin Department of Justice. She moved from “prosecutor” to “judge” when she was elected to a judgeship in the Waukesha County Circuit Court. In April 2022 she won an election to the Wisconsin Court of Appeals (District II) by beating the Governor Evers appointed incumbent, 54% - 45%. Lazar has the variety of judicial experience to make an excellent Supreme Court Justice.

To fully evaluate your candidate, you must consider all the candidates. In this particular election contest, which is non-partisan, the only other candidate Is Judge Chris Taylor which means there will be no primary in February. (This could change before early January when nomination papers are due.) You also need quality information professionally presented. Wisconsin Right Now, for example, in an early October article “How WISN-TV, AP Framed Maria Lazar, Chris Taylor Differently” showed how the same news be swayed to change the emphasis of the article.

There are differences in comparing the two candidates. Judge Lazar is Wisconsin born and raised and attended college in Milwaukee. She attended law school at Georgetown in Washington, D.C. Judge Taylor was raised in the Los Angeles area of California, attended college at the University of Pennsylvania, and law school at UW-Madison. After law school, Taylor worked as a private practice attorney before becoming the public policy director for Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin. When a vacancy in the Wisconsin State Assembly occurred, she ran and won the crowded Democrat primary with only 31% of the vote. This guaranteed her election as there was no Republican opponent. A couple of months after she announced she was not running for re-election to the Legislature, Governor Evers appointed her to fill a vacancy on the Dane County Circuit Court.

Judge Taylor’s website states “Judge Chris Taylor is a lifelong advocate for justice, fairness, and protecting the rights of all people.” Her website further states “Chris has also been a champion for public safety and victim’s rights.” This isn’t entirely true as in August retiring Justice Rebecca Bradley blasted Judge Taylor over opposition to Marsy’s Law. According to the Marsy’s Law website “Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin ensures victims of crime have meaningful and enforceable rights throughout the criminal justice process”. Justice Bradley pointed out that Taylor had voted against Marsy’s Law twice as a Madison Democrat in the State Legislature in 2017 and 2019.

There are other considerations. For example, of the six Justices that the winning candidate will join on the Supreme Court, four built their judicial career in the Dane or Milwaukee Circuit Courts. Taylor is likewise from Dane County while Lazar is from Waukesha County. With 72 counties in Wisconsin, some geographical diversity can only enhance the Supreme Court. The diversity of law schools represented isn’t a factor as of the remaining six justices, three went to law school in Wisconsin and three went outside Wisconsin.

There are similarities. Both candidates have experience at the Circuit Court and at the Appeals Court. However, Judge Lazar has about twice the “bench time” as Judge Taylor. And, while Taylor started her judicial experience with an appointment, Lazar has always been elected.

All things considered, and probably a few more, it is evident that Judge Maria S. Lazar of Waukesha County is by far the best candidate for Wisconsin’s Supreme Court. Her experience and expectations will be hard to beat if another candidate suddenly shows up!

Vote Maria S. Lazar for Supreme Court on April 7th, 2026. Tell you friends!