Ann Walsh Bradley

Early life and career

Ann Walsh Bradley was born Ann Ellen Walsh in Richland Center, Wisconsin, in 1950. She graduated from Richland Center High School and went on to Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri. She worked three jobs to pay for college, and earned her bachelor's degree in 1972. While in school, she worked for the Democratic Party presidential primary campaign of New York mayor John Lindsay. She later said that this was her last involvement in partisan politics.

After graduating, she worked as a high school teacher at Aquinas High School in La Crosse, Wisconsin, before entering the University of Wisconsin Law School, where she earned her J.D. in 1976.

She moved to Wausau, Wisconsin, after completing her legal education and worked for three years as an attorney for Wausau Insurance Companies. In 1979, she went into private practice and associated with the law firm Bradley, Hoover, Grady, & Molinaro. She was appointed to the state Public Defender Board in 1983

In February 1985, Governor Tony Earl appointed her to a vacant Wisconsin circuit court judgeship in Marathon County. A year later, she won a full six year term as judge, and was re-elected in 1992, without facing an opponent in either election.

Wisconsin Supreme Court

In April 1994, Chief Justice Nathan Heffernan announced he would not stand for re-election in 1995, and would therefore retire from the court later that year when his term expired. This created the first open seat election for Wisconsin Supreme Court since 1983. Bradley announced her candidacy the next day. She had twice previously solicited appointment to the court, in 1992 and 1993, when two previous justices had resigned in the middle of their terms. Ultimately, three other notable Wisconsin lawyers and judges entered the 1995 race: Brown County circuit judge N. Patrick Crooks, Court of Appeals judge Ted E. Wedemeyer Jr., and Madison attorney Patience D. Roggensack. Bradley attempted to maintain political independence in the race, and criticized Crooks for emphasizing his endorsements from Republican governor Tommy Thompson's political organization. Bradley touted her own bipartisan endorsements, from Democratic former governor Tony Earl and Republican Sue Ann Thompson—the wife of Governor Tommy Thompson—who served as a co-chair of the Bradley campaign.

In the top-two nonpartisan primary, Bradley topped the field of five, receiving 38% of the vote. Crooks came in second with 26% and moved on to face Bradley in the April general election. Bradley continued to emphasize her independence from politics in the general election campaign, though by then she had also picked up the endorsement of prominent liberal judges in the state and the Wisconsin Education Association Council teachers' union group. Bradley received 54% of the general election vote; she was sworn in at the Wisconsin State Capitol on August 16, 1995.

She won re-election without opposition in 2005.

2011 conflict with Justice Prosser

On June 13, 2011, Bradley had a confrontation with Justice David Prosser Jr. that allegedly became violent. Prosser, Bradley, and all other justices besides Patrick Crooks were in Bradley's office discussing the next day decision that would overturn Judge Sumi's ruling on the collective bargaining law. There are different accounts as to what occurred. According to Bradley, the discussion became heated after Bradley asked Prosser to leave her office and said she was bothered by his disparaging comments towards Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson. She alleged he then put his hands around her throat in what was described as a choke hold. Prosser said that these reports would be proven to be false.

Bradley stated that Prosser had choked her: "The facts are that I was demanding that he get out of my office and he put his hands around my neck in anger in a chokehold." Prosser denied he choked Bradley, saying "Once there's a proper review of the matter and the facts surrounding it are made clear, the anonymous claims made to the media will be proven false." Neither Prosser nor Bradley faced criminal charges from the incident. The state Judicial Commission told its special prosecutor not to pursue new avenues to forward its ethics case against Prosser.

Later years and retirement

Scott Walker's administration was also dogged through its first term with a John Doe investigation into his campaign fundraising. Bradley chose to recuse herself from Supreme Court cases dealing with the Walker investigation, because her son, John Bradley, was a law partner with one of the lawyers in the case. Bradley said at the time, "This court has been subject to extensive criticism for its recusal rules and practices. Weak recusal rules and lapses in recusal practices undermine the public trust and confidence in a fair and impartial judiciary."

Bradley faced a contested election in 2015, but prevailed with nearly 60% of the vote over Rock County circuit judge James P. Daley.

The 2023 Wisconsin Supreme Court election gave liberals on the court a majority for the first time since 2008. On the night of the election, Bradley commented that she intended to run for a fourth term in 2025. A year later, however, Bradley announced that she would not seek re-election in 2025 and will retire when her current term expires on July 31, 2025. Shortly after announcing her retirement, Bradley endorsed Dane County circuit judge Susan M. Crawford to succeed her; Crawford went on to win the 2025 election, defeating former attorney general Brad Schimel.

Despite her retirement, Bradley was elected to a two-year term as the court's chief justice on April 3, with her term beginning May 1. She served just two months as chief justice, standing down on June 30 in favor of Justice Jill Karofsky. She retired on July 31, 2025, achieving the fifth longest tenure in the history of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Personal life and family

Ann Walsh took the last name Bradley when she married Mark J. Bradley in 1978, at St. James Catholic Church in Wausau. Mark Bradley is also a prominent attorney in Wisconsin and was a member of the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents. Mark's father was John Bradley, commonly but erroneously known for being one of the servicemen depicted in the Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima. Mark and Ann have four adult children.

Bradley is an elected member of the American Law Institute, a former associate dean and faculty member of the Wisconsin Judicial College, a former chair of the Wisconsin Judicial Conference, a Democrat and a lecturer for the American Bar Association's Asia Law Initiative.

Electoral history

Wisconsin Circuit Court (1986, 1992)

Wisconsin Supreme Court (1995–2015)

References

References

1. Balousek, Marv. (August 17, 1995). "Ann Walsh Bradley's 'long trail' leads to Wisconsin Supreme Court". [[Wisconsin State Journal]].
2. "Bradley, Ann Walsh 1950".
3. Segall, Cary. (February 19, 1995). "Bradley: three long years stressing judicial credentials". [[Wisconsin State Journal]].
4. (May 18, 2009). "Webster University honors Justice Ann Walsh Bradley". wicourts.gov.
5. "Justice Ann Walsh Bradley".
6. (August 17, 1983). "Wausau woman named to panel". [[The Capital Times]].
7. (February 6, 1985). "Earl appoints Bradley". Wausau Daily Herald.
8. Thayer, Kelly C.. (April 21, 1994). "Bradley announces candidacy". Wausau Daily Herald.
9. Miller, Cliff. (December 19, 1994). "Justice candidate wants politics out of race". [[The Post-Crescent]].
10. "Two probes opened into Bradley claim". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
11. "Prosser: Reports false that he placed hands on neck of other justice". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
12. "Bill Lueders. "[https://wisconsinwatch.org/2011/06/prosser-allegedly-grabbed-fellow-justice-by-the-neck/ Supreme Court spat got physical]". ''[[Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism. Wisconsin Watch]]'', June 25, 2011.
13. "Special prosecutor: No charges for Prosser, Bradley in fracas".
14. "Supreme Court Justice David Prosser's case appears stuck in neutral". Milwaukee Journal Sentinelaccessdate=February 9, 2015.
15. Vielmetti, Bruce. (March 19, 2014). "Justice Bradley steps aside from John Doe challenges". [[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]].
16. Bauer, Scott. (April 8, 2015). "Bradley Keeps Seat". Wausau Daily Herald.
17. Marley, Patrick. (2024-04-11). "Wisconsin Supreme Court liberal won't run again, shaking up race for control". Washington Post.
18. Vakil, Caroline. (April 1, 2025). "Liberal candidate wins Wisconsin Supreme Court race in blow to Trump, Musk". The Hill.
19. https://www.cnn.com/election/2025
20. Spicuzza, Mary. (April 3, 2025). "Retiring Justice Ann Walsh Bradley elected chief justice, will hand reins to Jill Karofsky". [[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]].
21. "Challenger criticizes Justice Bradley's judicial philosophy". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
22. "State Supreme Court challenger endorses changes". Associated Press, Green Bay Press Gazette.
23. (20 June 2013). "Wisconsin justice's spouse head of union-busting law firm". The Center for Public Integrity.
24. (1987). "The state of Wisconsin 1987-1988 Blue Book". State of Wisconsin.
25. (1993). "State of Wisconsin 1993-1994 Blue Book". State of Wisconsin.
26. (1995). "State of Wisconsin 1995-1996 Blue Book". State of Wisconsin.
27. Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. (2005). "State of Wisconsin 2005-2006 Blue Book". State of Wisconsin.
28. Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. (2015). "State of Wisconsin 2015-2016 Blue Book". State of Wisconsin.