Restoring stability, clarity, and certainty by upholding settled law—not legislating from the bench.
It is long past time that we—all of us here in Wisconsin—have a sincere and thoughtful discussion about abortion, otherwise called reproductive rights. Since the United States Supreme Court’s 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade, our entire country has grappled with this issue at a national level. The discussions have become heated, and the resolution seems far away. Almost fifty years later, in 2022, the United States Supreme Court, in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, returned the issue to each state and gave us, here in Wisconsin, the freedom to decide how we want to address abortion and what limits or exceptions, if any, we want in place.
Behind every court ruling is a human reality. For many women and families, this is not an abstract political debate; it is one of the most difficult and personal decisions a person can face. In the mad rush to select sides, we all forget what underlies this issue—we, the people of Wisconsin, have to take into account and balance the interests and life of the struggling mother and the baby, especially after it has come too far along. The real issue is unwanted pregnancies, and as a mother with children and a former Juvenile Court Judge, I recognize the hardships some women face and their rights to personal autonomy. They must be supported and treated with empathy. We need a compassionate but concise position that will be easily understood by my fellow Wisconsinites and will bring some calm to this constant storm.
It doesn’t appear that there will be a point in the near future when all sides will agree on the issue, including limits, and exceptions. We must, however, all agree that—because we live in a republican democracy—our legislature is where this battle must start and that the sole and proper role of our courts is to declare whether the laws as enacted are constitutional. With that in mind, the people are best served by a justice who can set aside personal views and apply the law dispassionately as it is written. That is one of my solemn pledges to Wisconsin.
My Commitment to You
As your Supreme Court Justice, I promise you three things:
- I will not legislate from the bench. My personal views will never override the Constitution or the statutes passed by your elected representatives.
- I will provide clarity. The law should be applied with compassion, empathy, and consistency so that doctors, patients, and families understand their rights and obligations.
- I will lower the temperature. Our courts should be boring, predictable, and fair—not a source of constant political division. We interpret the law, we do not write it—nor do we place our personal views above it.
At a Glance
The role of a Supreme Court Justice is to interpret the law as it is written, not to invent new rules from the bench.
The problem is that judicial activism has turned our courts into political battlegrounds, creating confusion and anxiety for Wisconsin families who just want to know what the rules are, especially with respect to abortion. I plan to bring stability and provide certainty for all parties. I commit to upholding Wisconsin’s current 20-week consensus—not because of personal politics, but because it is the settled law of our state.
The Details: A Return to Stability and Certainty
The Current Law
For too long, Wisconsin families have faced uncertainty regarding reproductive laws. That uncertainty is now over. Following the State Supreme Court’s 2025 decision in Kaul v. Urmanski, the 1849 statute regarding abortion is no longer enforceable. Wisconsin has returned to a modern legal framework, sometimes referred to as the “20-Week Compromise.”
That means the following:
- Legal: Abortion is legal in Wisconsin.
- Limited: The procedure is restricted after 20 weeks post-fertilization.
- Exceptions: Exceptions exist for medical emergencies throughout the entire pregnancy to prevent the death of the mother or irreversible physical impairment or significant genetic issues. Even so, the woman’s life is always a priority.
I will always stand up for women and the law. For far too long, we have not been given the respect and dignity we deserve. The decision whether to have an abortion is, perhaps, one of the most difficult challenges a woman will ever face. We must provide more support for women before and after birth. As a society, we can and must do better.