A vacancy on the state Supreme Court will likely be filled soon. Justice Patrick Crooks died suddenly last month, and Governor Scott Walker said Thursday that he has interviewed all three applicants for a temporary appointment to the state’s high court. Walker said a decision will come “probably in the next couple of days.”
Applicants include state Appeals Court Judge Rebecca Bradley, who’s also running for a full 10-year term on the court in next year’s spring election. The others are Dane County Circuit Judge Jim Troupis and Madison attorney Claude Covelli.
Two other announced candidates for a full term on the court, Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Joe Donald and Appeals Court Judge JoAnne Kloppenburg, did not apply for the temporary appointment. “I think it’s important for the people of the state,” Walker said. “They don’t want a long-term vacancy on the Supreme Court.”
The Republican governor, perhaps telegraphing his intention to tap Bradley for the seat, posted last week on his official Twitter account. “In 1993, a Milwaukee Journal editorial called for appointing Janine Geske to the Supreme Court,” Walker tweeted. “Geske went on to win election in 1994.”