Brian Hagedorn

The Wisconsin Supreme Court rejected a conservative activist's request to release guardianship records to identify ineligible voters, citing privacy protections. The 5-2 ruling upheld state law that such records are not public, with liberal justices and one conservative justice disagreeing with a lower court's decision to release redacted records. The case, brought by Ron Heuer and the Wisconsin Voter Alliance, sought to compare voter registration lists with names of individuals deemed ineligible to vote due to guardianship orders.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court voted to establish a committee to study and assess the state’s recusal rules for judges and justices, following a public hearing and open conference on a petition from retired judges. The existing rules, adopted in 2010 and influenced by lobbying groups Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce and Wisconsin Realtors Association, have faced criticism over conflicts of interest in high-profile cases. Conservative justices, including Rebecca Bradley and Brian Hagedorn, expressed skepticism about the committee’s effectiveness, while retired Judge Richard Niess emphasized the need for a thorough evaluation of potential reforms.