The University of Wisconsin-Madison Badgers GOP hosted an online forum Thursday featuring Wisconsin Supreme Court Candidate Jennifer Dorow ahead of next Tuesday’s spring primary election.
Dorow, appointed in 2011 by former Gov. Scott Walker, is currently chief justice of Wisconsin’s 3rd District Circuit Court.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court race has become one of the most closely watched elections in the nation ahead of the April 4 general election. Dorow is campaigning against three other candidates for a seat currently held by retiring Justice Patience Roggensack.
During the online forum, Dorow made it clear she is rooted in her religious ideals but promised to separate her personal beliefs from that of the law.
“These cases affect all of us in so many ways,” Dorow said, adding that she believed Supreme Court Justices “need to be committed to fairness and impartiality.”
Judge Dorow enlightened attendees on her extensive knowledge of law and touted an impressive resume, noting she was the presiding judge over the Darrell Brooks trial pertaining to the 2021 Waukesha Christmas Parade Attack. She also boasted endorsements from Roggensack and over 100 sheriffs across the state — whom she referred to as “constitutional servants” — as proof of her judicial record.
Dorow claimed she follows an “original intent” approach to written law and would continue to make opinions based on the literal written word of Wisconsin State Law if elected to the Wisconsin Supreme Court bench.
“A good judge has be committed to fairness and impartiality and following rule of law — not legislating," she said.
When asked about her opinion on social issues in Wisconsin, such as the cash bail system, which she has openly opposed, Judge Dorow said she cannot “prejudge issues” without losing her impartiality.
Dorow declined to answer questions on hot topic issues in Wisconsin, including the state’s 1849 abortion ban. However, she did say the U.S. Supreme Court’s June decision in Dobbs v. Jackson puts abortion rights in the hands of individual states.
“The decisions of the Supreme Court are binding on all of us,” she added.
Dorow also mentioned that Attorney General Josh Kaul’s lawsuit against Wisconsin’s abortion ban could make it to the state Supreme Court but did not wish to “prejudge” the situation to remain impartial.
Dorow ended her online forum by urging her attendees and their friends, family and neighbors to cast their vote in the upcoming spring elections.
“It is a great privilege that we get in this country and this state,” Dorow added.
Wisconsin’s spring primary election is next Tuesday, Feb. 21. The two Supreme Court candidates with the most votes will advance to the general election on April 4.
