News of the Day March 10, 2026
Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Annette Ziegler Won’t Seek Re-Election in 2027

Justice Annette Ziegler, a conservative who has sat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court since 2007 and served four years as chief justice, will not seek reelection to the court next year.

In an announcement Monday morning, Ziegler said she will serve out the remainder of her term but not appear on the April 2027 ballot, setting up what will be an open race.

“I am incredibly proud that in all my elections I had support from a broad spectrum of legal, civic, law enforcement and political leaders — both Democrats and Republicans — who believed in my commitment to fairness, ethics and the rule of law,” Ziegler said in a written statement. “I am also grateful to my colleagues on the Supreme Court, both past and present, for their faith in me by choosing me to serve as chief justice for two terms.”

Ziegler was first elected to the court in 2007, defeating Madison attorney Linda Clifford in what was seen at the time as one of the first big money races for the court. She was reelected in 2017 after an uncontested race. In recent years, the idea of a noncompetitive Wisconsin Supreme Court race has become almost absurd, as the last two high court races shattered national records for spending and framed by both liberals and conservatives as existential for their respective movements.

Ziegler holds a law degree from Marquette University, and served as a private attorney, assistant U.S. attorney and Washington County Circuit Court judge before she was elected to the Supreme Court.