Rock County Circuit Court Judge James Daley announced Monday his intention to run for the Wisconsin state Supreme Court in the April 2015 election.
Justice Ann Walsh Bradley, who currently holds the seat, was elected in 1995.
Daley, who has nearly 30 years of experience on the bench, hopes to be "an independent voice focused on applying the rule of law," according to a statement.
Before being appointed as a circuit court judge in 1989 by former Gov. Tommy Thompson, Daley served one term as the Rock County district attorney.
Daley has been the presiding judge in Rock County since 1998. In 2013, the Wisconsin Supreme Court appointed Daley chief judge of the 5th Judicial Circuit.
The Rock County circuit court judge played an important role setting up three specialized courts, including a drug, OWI and veterans court.
Though Wisconsin Supreme Court races are officially non-partisan, political groups have recently spent heavily on the races.
