Judge Brian Hagedorn should not be elected to the Wisconsin Supreme Court on April 2 as his actions show that he is not cognizant of his obligation to follow the Wisconsin Supreme Court rules that govern the behavior of all Wisconsin judges.

Wisconsin Supreme Court Rule 60.03 requires that “a judge shall avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety in all of the judge’s activities.” Section (1) of that rule requires that “a judge shall ... act at all times in a manner that promotes public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary.” The court’s official comment, which is part of the rule, states that the standard for judging whether a judge has displayed an appearance of impropriety is “whether the conduct would create in reasonable minds a perception that the judge's ability to carry out judicial responsibilities with integrity, impartiality and competence is impaired.”

In light of Judge Hagedorn’s public statements that marriage equality could lead to the legalization of sex with animals, and that Planned Parenthood is a “wicked organization," he has demonstrated that it would not be possible for him to sit on any case involving either of these groups, which have come before the Wisconsin Supreme Court, without reasonable people seeing an appearance of impropriety.