MADISON, WI – Three national organizations are speaking out in support of a voluntary public funding program for candidates for the Wisconsin Supreme Court. At the state capitol, representatives from the Committee for Economic Development, the Justice at Stake Campaign and the Reform Institute urged Assembly lawmakers in Wisconsin to follow the state Senate’s lead and send to the governor’s desk a proposal that would remove much of the private donations.

"As the new politics of judicial elections has spiraled out of control around the country, business leaders and ordinary citizens are demanding real solutions to keep cash out of the courtroom. One of those solutions is the kind of public financing proposal that the Wisconsin Senate passed last week," said Bert Brandenburg, executive director of the Justice at Stake Campaign.

Brandenburg cited a recent survey commissioned by his organization and conducted by the Republican polling firm American Viewpoint. The survey found that support for the proposal in Wisconsin is strong across all demographic and geographic groups, and across ideological and party lines, with Republicans favoring the proposal by a margin of 58 percent to 32 percent. Even a plurality of self-identified "very conservative voters" support the proposal (48 percent favor, 39 percent oppose).

According to a national 2007 Zogby survey of business leaders, 79 percent believe that campaign contributions made to judges have at least some influence on their decisions in the courtroom. Fully 90 percent are concerned that campaign contributions and political pressure will make judges accountable to politicians and special interest groups instead of the law and the Constitution. The poll showed strong support for finding ways to decrease the fundraising arms race now common in many state high court campaigns.

"These results confirm the uneasiness that many in business have with the role of money in judicial campaigns," said Mike Petro, vice president of the Committee for Economic Development.   "A fair and impartial judiciary – free from the influences of big money – is good for our country, the economy, and business."

The groups pointed to the success of a similar public funding program in North Carolina, noted that New Mexico also recently adopted judicial public funding, and pointed to a growing number of states – including Wisconsin – where the idea was being given serious consideration by state lawmakers concerned that nasty, expensive judicial races are eroding public trust and confidence in the courts.

"North Carolina’s public financing program has not favored any particular class of candidates: Seats have been won by incumbents and challengers, women and men, whites and minorities, Republicans and Democrats," said Cecilia Martinez, executive director of The Reform Institute.

The Reform Institute’s campaign finance reform agenda is rooted in the principles of transparency and public accountability, empowering citizens, reducing the influence of special interests, encouraging electoral competition, and guaranteeing proper enforcement of campaign laws. 

The Committee for Economic Development (CED) is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization comprised of our 200 senior corporate leaders and university presidents.  Since 1942, CED has provided a business perspective on critical economic and social issues developing practical recommendations in the nation’s interest.

Justice at Stake is a nonpartisan national partnership of 50 organizations working to keep America’s courts fair, impartial and independent through public education and research. Its bipartisan board of directors includes academics, business leaders, policy experts, and state and federal judges, including U.S. District Court Judge Charles Clevert of Wisconsin.