As he is skewered by the conservative politicians and pundits who helped elect him, Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Brian Hagedorn insists he remains true to his campaign promise: to read the law as plainly written and interpret it as the writers intended.
Those legal principles, known as âtextualismâ and âoriginalism,â are hallmarks of the conservative judicial approach â one that Hagedorn ostensibly shares with three others on the stateâs highest court: Chief Justice Pat Roggensack, Justice Annette Ziegler and Justice Rebecca Bradley, who were also elected with the help of Republicans.
âAs best I can Iâm trying to follow the law,â said Hagedorn, who legal observers say has become the courtâs most powerful swing vote. He says his restrained approach aligns with the judicial philosophy he has always had.