State Supreme Court Justice David Prosser has announced he will retire July 31, after serving on the high court for nearly 18 years.
Prosser sent a letter to the governor Wednesday announcing his intentions. In it, he writes that it has been a “tremendous honor” to serve the people of Wisconsin for more than 40 years. “Public service was the career I chose at an early age. That goal has been fulfilled,” he wrote.
Prosser has served on the Supreme Court for 18 years, and was last re-elected to a ten year term in 2011 during a hotly contested race against JoAnne Kloppenburg, which he won after a statewide recount. Prior to serving on the court, he was a member of the state Tax Appeals Commission and served 18 years in the Legislature, including spending two years as Assembly Speaker.
In a statement, Governor Scott Walker said Prosser “has faithfully served the state of Wisconsin for decades” and noted that they served in the Legislature at the same time. “It was a pleasure to serve with Justice Prosser in the Assembly and we thank him for his service to the state of Wisconsin and its citizens.”
The governor will be able to name a replacement, who will serve in the position through 2020. It’s the second time Walker has been able to appoint a Supreme Court justice since taking office, although it’s not expected to swing the balance of the court. Prosser is currently part of a 5-2 conservative majority.