Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Annette Ziegler announced on Mar. 9 that she will not seek reelection to the state’s highest court in 2027, ending a judicial career that has spanned three decades.
Ziegler’s decision marks a significant moment for the Wisconsin judiciary, as she is one of its longest-serving members and has held leadership roles including two terms as chief justice.
In her statement, Ziegler said, “It has been the honor of my lifetime to serve as judge and justice for the past 30 years. I will be forever grateful to the voters who elected me twice in Washington County and then twice to serve on our state’s highest court. I am incredibly proud that in all my elections I had support from a broad spectrum of legal, civic, law enforcement and political leaders – both Democrats and Republicans – who believed in my commitment to fairness, ethics and the rule of law. I am also grateful to my colleagues on the Supreme Court, both past and present, for their faith in me by choosing me to serve as chief justice for two terms.”
Ziegler explained her decision by saying, “After three decades on the bench, now is the right time for me to step away to spend more time with my husband, kids and grandkids. I will, therefore, not be seeking reelection to the Wisconsin Supreme Court in 2027.”
She added that while she would not be a candidate next year, her appreciation for Wisconsin residents and its judicial system remains strong. “I look forward to finishing out the rest of my term on the court and handing the baton to a new justice in 2027,” Ziegler said.
Ziegler was first elected to the Wisconsin Supreme Court in 2007 with 59 percent of the vote. She was reelected without opposition in 2017—the only justice over the past twenty years not to face an opponent. Before joining the Supreme Court, Ziegler served as senior judge in Washington County and District III Deputy Chief Judge. Her earlier career included work as an Assistant United States Attorney, Special Assistant District Attorney, private practice attorney representing Wisconsin businesses, and graduation from Marquette University Law School.
