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and proud of you.
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I love you, too.
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Right
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Helped somewhere somehow
Oh
Look at all of you good evening good evening. I'm Jill Kravsky. I'm the Chief Justice and Wisconsin Supreme
Thank you what an exciting night for Wisconsin. I am so honored to be here with all of you to celebrate
And celebrate we will look I want to begin by taking this opportunity to thank every candidate for judicial office who put their name on
The ballot across the state this April including Judge Maria Lazar
Judicial races at all level are so important for our democracy in Wisconsin. We have been electing judges and justices since 1848
This is how we ensure those in the judicial branch are accountable to the people of this state
And this is how we maintain the public's confidence in our court system
Now as some of you know for about a decade we have been fighting tirelessly to secure a supreme court
Majority that upholds and protects your rights and your freedom
We we have fought for an enduring majority that respects the rule of law and democratic structures
Those of you in this room those of you watching online or perhaps on TV
I just want you to know that my fellow justices and I we have all been in this fight to reclaim your court for a long time
In a moment, I'm going to introduce our friend and colleague someone who has deeply dedicated to public service
But before I do I want to recognize a few other amazing women in this room tonight
And first I'm going to begin with Justice Anne Walsh Bradley
She left the court last year after 30 years of service including as our chief justice
Anne Walsh Bradley was the conscious conscience of this court for every minute that she served
Justice Rebekah Dallot
No one and I mean no one on this court works harder
She was the first non-incumbent winner in our little run here
And and you should all blame her for persuading me that this was something that I could do because if it weren't for her
I never would have run in 2020
Justice Jana Protece with
She became a national figure overnight and continues to dedicate herself to our state and our community
And like Ann and Becky she is a phenomenal justice
And of course Justice Susan Crawford
Who last year not only beat her opponent but beat the richest man in the world
It was the most expensive race a judicial race in history and now Susan Crawford shows up every day
She rolls up her sleeves and she gets the job done
So let's get to why we're all here
After I was elected to the Wisconsin Supreme Court in 2020 thanks to many of you in this room
Chris Taylor succeeded me on the bench and the Dane County Circuit Court
We spent time talking as I was about to begin my new role and she was about to take the bench for the first time
What struck me most was how much Chris Taylor truly cares about people
As a judge on the circuit court and now on the court of appeals
Chris Taylor has earned a reputation as a prepared and independent and a fair judge who has committed to the rule of law
Giving every party in front of her a fair shot and treating everyone with kindness dignity and respect
Chris and her team ran an amazing campaign
They left nothing on the field
She traveled to every single corner of this state and you know what Chris Taylor loved every minute of this
She loved meeting every voter she came in contact with
So tonight it is no surprise to me that Wisconsinites overwhelmingly elected Chris Taylor
Overwhelmingly let me say it again elected Chris Taylor to be the next justice on your supreme
What
I know she is going to bring the same dedication she has shown over her 30-year legal career to her new position
She will uphold our laws. She will defend the Constitution
She will stay committed to our democracy and she will never forget
Chris Taylor will never forget about you the people across the state of Wisconsin
It is my honor and it is my absolute privilege
Please join me in welcoming your next justice on the wisconsin supreme court justice alert Chris Taylor
I
Wow
We did it wisconsin
Whoo
Tonight the people of wisconsin stood up for our rights and freedoms
Our democracy our elections and a strong state supreme court that will protect the independence of our beloved state
Once again wisconsin showed the entire nation
That we believe that the people should be at the center of government and the priority
And the priority of our judiciary
Not the billionaires not the most powerful and privileged but the people
Just a few minutes ago. I spoke with judge Maria Lazar who called to concede the race
I really appreciate her call and I wish her and her family well
Running for our seat on our state's highest court does take courage and I really respect that
I have so many people so many of you to thank for this moment
First my family my lovely husband Jim
And my sons
And our beloved dog ollie who communicated with many of you
People appreciate that
Behind me
I just I love all of you. I so appreciate your sacrifice as Jim Jim was on hockey transport duty
Her 11 months
I
Love all of you. I appreciate you all so much
And
And tonight we are remembering our mother who passed away in october right when this campaign
Was getting going and you know, I can't help it wish she was with us, but this one's for you mom
And
I'm also joined on stage by my niece Hannah and my nephew Maddy
And my brother and mom mark and sister want to hear you they you know, we do what we do
For our children so often we want something better and these kids and my own kids inspire me every day
To want to be better and want to make this state better
Um, and I know that you all join me in that and I so appreciate that
I am also so so happy and so
um in awe of the young people who powered my campaign
Yes
You all are the future of our state and
You I know will continue to work to make this state better. I was so in awe of the time
I got to spend on campus. It was amazing all around the state. So thank you all so much
I also wanted where is Ashley fronds my campaign
actually
Ashley
Just turned 30 so you know say happy birthday to her
Ashley
But she had such a vision and we worked and respected my vision for this campaign
And just led the ship and brought us through and she is going to change this world
No doubt about it
Into the rest of my incredible team abigail who was with me taking me all over the stage everywhere
Sawyer mia tobi
Jackie
Haley garen
Sam and scott. Thank you. We got in front of voters across this state
Thank you for raising the money to keep this campaign strong
For keeping the schedule in order and for traveling with me for the last 11 months
I see so many friends and colleagues in this audience
I am just so grateful for your support dear dear friends the minute I announced
That I was going to run just in wavering
Allegiance and support that you all have given me. Thank you so so much to my close friends and colleagues
It really meant the world to me to have you by my side
and
And then of course to our amazing justices of the Wisconsin Supreme Court
Chief justice Jill karofsky
And justices becky dallop
and
jana poda sandwich
And susan clofford
Thank you, i'll get them
Thank you so much for your leadership and your dedication to our supreme court and to the people
I looked so forward in joining you for awesome justices on the state supreme court
And a real special welcome to chief justice animals Bradley
In
1995
When justice and lost Bradley first got elected to the Wisconsin supreme court. I was graduating from law school
And I remember that election it was the first time ever a woman had been elected
And it inspired in me to dream something big
I didn't quite know how to live that dream, but thank you justice animals Bradley
Thank you for being the first
And thank you to the people of Wisconsin
Yes
Running in this campaign for the last 11 months was truly a joy
I
Met people in the smallest towns in the largest cities and they were all working
To improve our democracy
They were working to strengthen their communities and they inspired me every single day to keep going
We live in an incredible state and people are hungry for a government that works for them
People are hungry for a judiciary that prior that prioritizes them
That protects that protects our rights that affords all
Wisconsinites equal justice under the law
That is exactly what I will do as your next state supreme court justice
And last but certainly not least
Thank you to the tens of thousands of grassroots supporters who are part of this campaign
In communities throughout that's you all yay
In communities throughout our state armies of volunteers knocked on countless doors
Made thousands of phone calls and wrote I don't know probably millions of postcards and I got one
Telling me to vote for me. So that was fun
It worked
There is nothing more powerful than we when we come together organizing and raising our voices
And I am so grateful for the grassroots support
That I needed to win this race. This was a grassroots campaign
About the people of the state of Wisconsin and tonight the people in Wisconsin spoke
And what you said is clear. We are moving forward
For
Our rights for our democracy
For every family and individual in this state that deserves a fair shot at justice
Tonight is a victory for every person in this state
Who believes that the court should work for all of us
I grew up understanding what the law can do for ordinary people
My grandmother was a single mom who struggled to make ends meet to support my mother until she died a union job
Which enabled her to support three children
Which enabled her to help my mother go to college my mother was a fixed grade public school teacher
so
And it enabled her to
Not just survive but thrive and that's why I want for all people in Wisconsin
The law can be a tool to lift people up to improve their lives to strengthen our communities
And that's exciting that drove me to law school
And I'm spent now
30 my 30 year legal career as a lawyer
In private practice, it's a law and policy director for Planned Parenthood
As a legislator and for the last six years as a judge
To work to make sure that people's rights and freedoms are protected
That survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault are protected and respected
And that working people who actually make the pie get a slice of it instead of the leftover crumbs
And I have always valued every woman's ability to make her own personal private health care
Thank you
Every single day as a judge I work to ensure that the cases and the people before me get a fair and deliberate
Consideration and that laws are applied independently and impartially with an eye always towards achieving justice
Politics has no place in the judiciary and the judiciary is not a rubber stamp for any party
Group or branch of government including the federal government
I
Am so honored that I get to continue this work at the state supreme court
It is an honor that the people of Wisconsin have bestowed on me that I will never ever forget and I treasure it
Tonight
We stand strongly for a state supreme court that prioritizes the people of Wisconsin
Their rights their lives and the independence of our great state
And for court that holds everyone accountable under the law no matter how powerful or privileged
I
Will be a justice for you the people of Wisconsin. Thank you, Wisconsin forward we go together
I
Good
Are you
All right, yeah, I know I can't even ask you I don't really want to ask you. What's that? So what do you all been up to?
Yeah
I know so I still offered to make conversation right now. I know exactly
I
Nothing what have you done
I
Now justice Taylor did a fantastic job of making sure that she covered the whole state
I think at some point at some level all these races are the same you have to connect with people
You have to carry your message you have to do it honestly truthfully, and I think that's what happened then uh, yeah that you know every race is
Unique in the sense that maybe some funders are not as excited as others in different terms
But really what matters is voters what matters is Wisconsin what matters is what we do for people
And I think Kristen an excellent job of that
Not to put you on the spot
But your name has been brought up with possible Supreme Court runs in the future
What's that feeling like when you know the incumbents already decided she's not running again in this incredible way for the liberal candidates over and over?
Well, you know, I thank the people that think of me and uh, I just want to take my time deciding
And uh, see what happens and as I said every race is unique
So I have to uniquely think about race for the Supreme Court
But uh tonight is a great victory for the state of Wisconsin
Does the nightlife tonight influence any decisions that might be made down the road in terms of how
Successful that the candidates have been over the past few
I think the definition of the state or how we define our state as a continuing struggle
And we're going to see that struggle continue
Uh throughout every race and so we'll try to define it again next time
Yeah, thanks
Okay
One two three
Okay
All right
I've been so
I