United States: liberal majority on the Supreme Court of Wisconsin

Wisconsin voters on Tuesday brought progressive Janet Protasiewicz to the Supreme Court of this northern US state. REUTERS - EVELYN HOCKSTEIN

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In the United States, a progressive has just been elected to the Supreme Court of Wisconsin, which tipped the most important court in the state into the liberal camp, with four liberals against three conservatives. And very important consequences, at the Wisconsin level, for abortion rights among others, but also at the national level.

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Janet Protasiewicz had been very clear about her pro-abortion positions during the campaign. Wisconsin has not performed abortions since the U.S. Supreme Court last year gave states freedom to perform abortions.

► Read also United States: the Supreme Court revokes the right to abortion

But in Wisconsin a law of 1849 prohibits abortion with very rare exceptions, it must be examined in a few months before the local Supreme Court - where since Tuesday it is the liberals who dominate.

Another issue on which this Court could rule in favour of the Liberals is electoral maps. For ten years, the Republicans have dominated both houses of the local assembly, they have taken the opportunity to cement their majority by drawing cards in their favor.

A practice that the Wisconsin Supreme Court could declare unconstitutional, as other states have already done — giving Democrats a better chance in the 2024 presidential election. Democrats, who very early understood the importance of the election of J Janet Protasiewicz: millions of dollars poured in from outside the state to support her, in what is, to date, the most expensive election to a judicial office in the history of the United States: $ 40 million.

► Read also United States: the Supreme Court of Wisconsin opposes the extension of the confinement

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  • United States
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