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Chief Justice Abrahamson Files Lawsuit Challenging Referendum

Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson has filed a federal lawsuit to ensure she's not immediately removed from her leadership position. 

She's named all six other members of the court and some state officials as defendants.

Abrahamson sued Wednesday, a day after voters approved a constitutional amendmentthat allows justices to select the court's leader.  For the past 126 years, the position has gone to the most senior member of the court.

Abrahamson is viewed as part of the court's liberal faction, and the conservative majority was expected to vote her out as leader.  She argues in her lawsuit that the change should not be applied until after her current term ends in 2019.  If it's applied now, she says it would be a violation of her constitutional right to due process.

Marti was a reporter with WUWM from 1999 to 2021.
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