ABSTRACT
This chapter provides some context for the analysis by briefly describing what state Supreme Court elections look like today. It highlights events in one state, Wisconsin, where electoral politics has very publicly affected the inner workings of the state's highest court. Though admittedly an extreme example, Wisconsin's experience is useful to explore because it illustrates the fears of opponents of judicial elections and also highlights the various rules that have been adopted to try to quell those fears and protect judicial independence against the pressures of electoral politics. For many, the Wisconsin Supreme Court represents a cautionary tale about the effects of electoral politics on the independence, impartiality, and integrity of the judiciary. State Supreme Court elections once were thought to be special types of elections with low rates of contestation, little campaign spending, and a focus on qualifications over issues. The chapter also presents some of the key concepts of this book.
