By Scott Bauer
Associated Press
September 23, 2015
(Full Article)
MADISON (AP) — Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Rebecca Bradley said Wednesday that she will not coordinate with outside groups as she runs to retain her seat, even though it would be legal.
Bradley told The Associated Press that although she won’t coordinate with groups that have spent millions of dollars on recent state Supreme Court races, she also won’t ask them to stay out of her contest.
“It’s not my place to tell them what to do and they have a 1st Amendment right to participate,” Bradley said. She added that if the groups do choose to get involved in the race, she hopes they would “maintain a positive message.”
Bradley’s comments came two days after she was sworn in to serve the remaining 9 1/2 months of Justice Patrick Crooks’ term. He died in office last month. Gov. Scott Walker appointed Bradley to the position on Friday, choosing her over two others.
When Walker picked her, Bradley had already announced she was running for a full 10-year term on the court in an election to be decided April 5. Two other declared candidates – 4th District Appeals Court Judge JoAnne Kloppenburg and Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Joe Donald – did not apply for the vacancy.