Court Of Last Resort Essay

The Court of Last Resort often takes many different names and forms depending on the state. In Wisconsin, the highest court is entitled the Supreme Court, and “Has appellate jurisdiction over all Wisconsin courts and has discretion to determine which appeals it will hear” (“Supreme Court”). The goals of the Wisconsin Supreme Court and its judges are to uphold democracy, establish a sense of consistency, and interpret the law in a manner that is beneficial for the citizens of the state. Similar to that of several other states, the Wisconsin Supreme Court is composed of 7 justices, who are elected or appointed to 10-year terms. After the 10-year term expires, the justice can either participate in an election to keep their current position or give up the seat in preference of someone new. In terms of selection, the justices are generally elected in a non-partisan election during the month of April, and only 1 seat can be elected per year. In addition, “In the event of a vacancy on the court, the governor has the power and duty to appoint an individual to the vacancy (Ballotpedia). Demographic-wise, the entirety of the court is white, 6 of the 7 justices are above

However, the Supreme Court also has “. . . Administrative and regulatory authority over all Wisconsin courts and the practice of law in the state” (“Supreme Court”). However, while the judges usually focus solely on the cases, the productivity and workload of the Court has been steadily decreasing for years. During an average year, the Wisconsin Supreme Court typically closes 2,000 cases and issues 40-50 opinions, which is much lower than years prior (Schuldt). The cases are decided after the Court “. . . Receives written arguments (called briefs) from all sides and schedules oral arguments. . .” (“Supreme Court”). After hearing all available evidence, the final decision and/or opinion is often published in order to inform the