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Fair Courts

A strong democracy requires protecting everyone’s constitutional rights and ensuring our courts are fair and impartial.

Fair courts are one of the foundations of democracy. Yet today, Supreme Court judges are not held to a binding code of ethics, while many state-level judges are forced to raise money from special interests to sit on the bench, or are selected through an unfair process.

Common Cause advocates for transparency and fairness when it comes to picking judges and shaping our courts. Ensuring that judges are beholden only to the law and keeping courtrooms fair are keys to building a strong 21st-century democracy.

What We’re Doing


Fair Courts

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Fair Courts

We're educating Wisconsinites about our state's lack of effective judicial recusal rules, and pushing for stronger recusal standards to ensure impartial justice in Wisconsin courts.
Background and History of Judicial Recusal in Wisconsin

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Background and History of Judicial Recusal in Wisconsin

The landscape began to shift about a decade ago when outside special interest groups, for the first time, began to pour millions of dollars into the election of two State Supreme Court Justices.

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Related Articles

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Why are Wisconsin Supreme Court elections so expensive and what can be done about it?

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Why are Wisconsin Supreme Court elections so expensive and what can be done about it?

Some of those factors have pushed high court races in other states into the seven- or even eight-figure range, but only Wisconsin — the first to see nine-figure spending on a court contest — has all of them.

“It’s the whole picture that makes us so obscene,” says Jay Heck, executive director of Common Cause Wisconsin, which advocates for transparent and accountable government.

Supreme Court case takes deeper dive into campaign financing

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Supreme Court case takes deeper dive into campaign financing

Common Cause Wisconsin Executive Director Jay Heck believes that a decision favoring Republicans would pump even more money into politics as a whole, which he says could erode trust in the candidates at the federal and state levels.

Jay Heck
Jay Heck testifying at public hearing

Jay Heck

Executive Director

Common Cause Wisconsin

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