The chief justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court has filed a federal lawsuit challenging a state constitutional amendment adopted by voters Tuesday.
Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson currently serves as the head of the state’s court system because she is the most senior member of the Supreme Court. She faces the possibility of losing her position though after Tuesday’s election results are certified though, because voters approved an amendment to the state constitution that would have future justices selected by the seven members of the court.
Abrahamson is often viewed as a member of the court’s liberal minority, and it’s expected a more conservative justice will replace her.
In the lawsuit filed on Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Madison, Abrahamson argued the change in selecting the court’s leadership should not take effect until after her current ten year term ends in 2019. She contends the rules should remain as they were when she was last re-elected in 2009.
A message seeking comment from Abrahamson was not returned.