Today, Justice David T. Prosser declared victory after all 72 counties officially reported their numbers. After Milwaukee County finished its counting last Friday, Justice Prosser won by 7,316 votes. This margin is within threshold that allows Justice Prosser’s opponent, JoAnne Kloppenburg, to petition for a recount paid for by Wisconsin taxpayers. Ms. Kloppenburg has until Wednesday to decide whether to file a petition.
To view Justice Prosser’s press conference on Wisconsin Eye, click here.
In Anderson v. Department of Natural Resources, 2001 WI 19 (March 23, 2011), the Wisconsin Supreme Court relied on concepts of federalism to decide the DNR’s authority to overrule the EPA’s application of the federal Clean Water Act.
Justice David Prosser took a considerably larger lead Thursday evening when Waukesha County Clerk Kathy Nickolaus announced that her original report to the Associated Press on election night did not include numbers from the City of Brookfield. As a result, Justice Prosser took a roughly 7,500 vote lead.
For more information, here are articles from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Wisconsin State Journal.
As of noon today, the Wisconsin Supreme Court race between Justice David Prosser and JoAnne Kloppenburg is still too close to call. Final, official results could vary and a recount appears likely.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is reporting that Kloppenburg holds a paper-thin lead, with town officials in the Lake Mills precinct still counting the last of the paper ballots. The Associated Press said that it was rechecking all of the totals in all 72 counties to make sure it has an accurate count in each county. The wire service said it anticipated getting the final numbers later Wednesday.
Either way, a recount is likely.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court announced today that it has accepted eight new cases for the 2010-2011 term. A number of these cases will directly affect Wisconsin businesses.
Tomorrow, Wisconsinites will go to the polls to decide whether Justice David Prosser will remain on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, or whether his opponent, environmental assistant attorney general JoAnne Kloppenburg, will replace him.
For more information about the Court and tomorrow’s election, see WCJC’s 2011 Guide to the Wisconsin Supreme Court.