The Sconi

Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Brad Schimel said those who support Gov. Tony Evers’ (D-Wisc.) proposal to replace “mother” with “inseminated person” in state code are “radicals” who “want to erase mothers.”

Schimel also asked where his opponent in the April 1 Wisconsin Supreme Court election, Susan Crawford, stands on Evers’ proposal.

“Radicals backing Susan Crawford want to erase mothers and call them inseminated persons,” Schimel told Wisconsin Right Now. “Men are men. Women are women.”

“Can Susan Crawford say the same?” asked Schimel. 

Evers’ proposal, included in the 2025-2027 budget, would also replace “paternity” with “parentage” and substitute “husband” and “wife” with “spouse.” The proposal would have to first pass through the Republican-controlled state legislature and, if Evers’ vetoes changes to his budget, the legislature could override the veto with enough votes. 

The Wisconsin Supreme Court could end up weighing in on the proposal if legal challenges arise. 

Advocacy groups or individuals could decide to file lawsuits challenging the state’s existing parental terminology. If the legislature rejects Evers' proposal, lawsuits could be filed by liberal advocacy groups or other supporters of the proposal. A legal dispute could also emerge if Evers uses his veto power to implement changes, prompting Republican lawmakers to challenge his authority in court. Additionally, county-level family court disputes could lead to lawsuits that reach Wisconsin’s high court.

The Supreme Court currently has a 4-3 liberal majority, but Justice Ann Walsh Bradley’s retirement has made the seat competitive. If Susan Crawford, the liberal candidate, wins, the court would likely support legal challenges supporting Evers’ proposal. If Brad Schimel, the conservative candidate, wins, the court would shift to a 4-3 conservative majority, increasing the likelihood of rulings that uphold the legislature’s authority and maintain existing law.

Schimel is a judge on the Waukesha County Circuit Court and was the state Attorney General from 2015 to 2019 after being elected as a Republican. Before that, he was the Waukesha County District Attorney from 2007 to 2015. 

Crawford is a judge on the Dane County Circuit Court and a former attorney in private practice. She was elected to the bench in 2018. Before serving as a judge, she worked as an assistant attorney general in the Wisconsin Department of Justice under state Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager (D).