Observers of the US Supreme Court have devised methods for determining which justices author the most consequential majority opinions. For instance, cases described as unusually “salient,” “significant,” or “important” have been identified by the frequency with which they are mentioned in the New York Times and other media shortly after the decisions are released. Recently, attorney Bill Tyroler kindly brought to my attention a different technique for assessing the importance of US Supreme Court decisions and wondered if it could be applied credibly to the justices in Madison.[Continue Reading…]
Original Actions and Judicial Activism: An Update through 2023-24
September 24, 2024 by Leave a Comment
Previous posts[1] in this series have noted an increase in the number of original-action petitions accepted by the supreme court, and today we’ll see if this trend continued over the past three terms. Although most cases reach the justices in more leisurely fashion—passing through a circuit court and then the court of appeals before reaching the supreme court—the justices may accept a case as an original action, skipping the lower courts altogether. Such cases serve as an indication of the court’s priorities and sense of urgency—and, particularly for those who disagree with the decisions, evidence of “judicial activism.”[Continue Reading…]
Wisconsin Supreme Court Statistics, 1927-28
September 17, 2024 by Leave a Comment
These tables are derived from information contained in 379 Wisconsin Supreme Court decisions that were turned up in a Nexis Uni search for decisions filed between September 1, 1927, and August 31, 1928. The total of 379 decisions does not include … [Continue reading]
Wisconsin Supreme Court Statistics, 1928-29
August 20, 2024 by Leave a Comment
These tables are derived from information contained in 385 Wisconsin Supreme Court decisions that were turned up in a Nexis Uni search for decisions filed between September 1, 1928, and August 31, 1929. The total of 385 decisions does not include … [Continue reading]
The 2023-24 Fantasy League Medalists
July 23, 2024 by Leave a Comment
The season provided the closest competition in the league’s history, with all four teams separated by only six points, and two teams—the Gavels of the State Public Defender’s Office and the Affirmed—finishing in a tie atop the standings. In … [Continue reading]
Wisconsin Supreme Court Statistics, 2023-24
July 18, 2024 by Leave a Comment
These tables are derived from information contained in 14 Wisconsin Supreme Court decisions filed between September 1, 2023, and the end of the court’s term in the summer of 2024. The total of 14 decisions omits orders pertaining to various motions, … [Continue reading]
The 2023-24 Term: Some More Impressions
July 15, 2024 by 1 Comment
As it commenced the 2023-24 term, the Wisconsin Supreme Court attracted national attention. With a new liberal majority poised to review significant controversies, observers anticipated rulings that would depart abruptly from the holdings of … [Continue reading]
The Supreme Court’s 2023-24 Term: Some Initial Impressions
July 8, 2024 by 2 Comments
With the term’s last three substantive decisions now in the books, the door has opened for our annual series of posts inspecting the justices’ labors. The term did not lack unusual and dramatic features, one of which serves as our focus today. … [Continue reading]
Law Firm Fantasy League
June 29, 2024 by Leave a Comment
Each of the three decisions filed this week provided points to fantasy-league teams—and, in the process, shook up the standings in stunning fashion. After languishing in the cellar for several weeks, the Gavels of the State Public Defender’s Office … [Continue reading]
Law Firm Fantasy League
June 22, 2024 by Leave a Comment
The two decisions filed this week did not deliver any points to fantasy-league teams--hence, no change in the standings. … [Continue reading]
