By: dmc-admin//June 14, 2010//
The Seventh Circuit today affirmed an opinion by Judge Barbara Crabb, holding that Wisconsin judges may join political parties.
Judge Tinder wrote for the court, “The state does not have a compelling interest in preventing candidates from announcing their views on legal or political issues, let alone prohibiting them from announcing those views by proxy.”
However, the court reversed Judge Crabb in part. The court held that the state may prohibit judges from endorsing partisan candidates for office and personally soliciting campaign contributions.
The Case is Siefert v. Alexander, No. 09-1713.
For a full analysis of the opinion, see the June 21 issue of Wisconsin Law Journal.