next spring in which no other justice is to be elected (if the vacancy occurs between Dec. 1 and the spring election, appointees stand for election in the next spring election)***
Court of Appeals:
next spring election in which no other judge from that district is to be elected (if the vacancy occurs between Dec. 1 and the spring election, appointees stand for election in the next spring)***
Circuit Court:
next spring election (if the vacancy occurs between Dec. 1 and the spring election, appointees stand for election in the next spring election)***
Supreme Court:
Court selection
Court of Appeals:
supreme court appoints
Circuit Court:
supreme court appoints
Supreme Court:
2 years
Court of Appeals:
3 yrs
Circuit Court:
2 yrs
Supreme Court:
qualified elector of the state; licensed to practice law in state 5 yrs****
Court of Appeals:
qualified elector of the state; licensed to practice law in state 5 yrs****
Circuit Court:
qualified elector of circuit; licensed to practice law in state 5 yrs****
Selection and retention methods and term lengths are prescribed by Article VII of the Wisconsin Constitution.
*If there are more than two candidates for a judicial position, a nonpartisan primary election is held. The top two vote getters in the primary compete in the general election.
**Governor Walker uses an advisory council on judicial selection to screen applicants for interim judicial vacancies and recommend three to five qualified candidates. The governor is not bound by the council's recommendations.
***If the vacancy occurs between December 1 and the spring election, appointees stand for election in the next spring election.
****The Wisconsin Constitution authorizes the legislature to impose a mandatory retirement age of no less than 70. To date it has not been enacted by statute.
