Best Supreme Court Justice

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Hon. Shirley S. Abrahamson,
Wisconsin Supreme Court

When Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson talks, people listen.

Not because her native New York accent is an anomaly in Wisconsin, but rather her words often carry a great deal of meaning.

For more than 32 years, Abrahamson has spoken to people through more than 3,500 cases she has participated in and in excess of 450 majority opinions she has authored as a state Supreme Court justice.

“I try to write opinions that make sense and explain the reasoning,” Abrahamson said.

The longest serving member on the court, she was appointed the first female justice in the state in 1976. Since then, Wisconsin voters have elected and re-elected her to the bench three times. At age 75, she is running for another term this spring.

Wisconsin attorneys cast another set of votes for Abrahamson through our Best Of survey.

She received more votes for Best Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice than her six colleagues combined.

“I’m very flattered that the people who probably know the courts the best and at closest range have selected me in this manner,” Abrahamson said. “I hope I’m on the court for a long time to come.”

She recently completed a tour of all 72 counties in Wisconsin to evaluate judicial strategies and has also been an advocate of public financing of judicial campaigns.

But Abrahamson said her primary obligation for the last three-plus decades has always been to provide people with the best service possible from her seat on the Supreme Court bench.

“I’ve worked hard and I think people understand that,” Abrahamson said.