More choices needed on local ballot

It is election day today in Wisconsin. As is typical in most spring elections, there isn’t much on the ballot. But it is an important election nonetheless. Voters statewide will select a new judge to serve on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. There are also four local judges on the ballot seeking to serve on the local circuit court. But won’t you won’t see on the ballot is any opposition to those four judges. Each is running unopposed. It is disappointing there aren’t more choices on the ballot. Especially given how so many people are critical of the legal decisions rendered by La Crosse County judges. Our judges are often accused of being soft on crime or even coddling criminals. But not one person bothered to take out nomination papers to challenge even one of the four judges up for re-election today. That is despite the fact these judges will serve six-year terms following today’s vote. We won’t have a chance to remove them from office until 2025. In part because there are so few contested races on the ballot today, voter turnout is likely to be less than fifteen percent. More choices would likely inspire more turnout. But apparently when it comes to our judges, everyone is ok with the way their robes fit.