Buying Time—2008: Wisconsin
Analysis

– 05/12/08

judgdes

Wisconsin's partisan and costly 2008 Supreme Court campaign between Judge Mike Gableman and Justice Louis Butler was dominated by special interest groups covered almost nine out of every ten dollars spent on television advertising (89%).

Many of the ads have been criticized as misleading and unseemly. In an ad that began airing only on March 14th, challenger Judge Michael Gableman attacked Justice Louis Butler for his work on a criminal case without actually noting that Butler was serving as publicly-appointed defense counsel in the matter and representing a client. The Wisconsin Judicial Campaign Integrity Committee (WJCIC) slammed Gableman's ad, describing it as marked by an "offensive, race-baiting style reminiscent of the Willie Horton spot from the 1988 presidential race."

Meanwhile, an ad sponsored by the Greater Wisconsin Committee criticizes Gableman's handling of a number of child sexual assault cases. The WJCIC called the ad "completely useless," saying that the claims made "were not substantiated or put into meaningful context."

Leading up to the November 2008 election, the Brennan Center is releasing real-time reports on television advertising in state Supreme Court elections. The 2008 reports continue the groundbreaking analysis first conducted in 2000 examining the sponsorship, content and costs of televised state Supreme Court campaign ads.

Buying Time—2008: WisconsinAnalysis

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Feb. 20, 2008 – Meet Mike Gableman

Feb. 21, 2008 – Gableman Tough on Crime

Mar. 1, 2008 – Gableman, We Need Higher Standards

Mar. 4, 2008 – Butler, It's an Honor

Mar. 5, 2008 – Butler, Murdered Wife

Mar. 5, 2008 – Butler, Ralph Armstrong

Mar. 8, 2008 – Butler, Ralph Armstrong II

Mar. 10, 2008 – Gableman, Thank Judges

Mar. 10, 2008 – Gableman, Thank Judges II

Mar. 12, 2008 – Butler Battleground

Mar. 12, 2008 – It's Mike Gableman

Mar. 14, 2008 – Gableman Shadowy Special Interests

Mar. 18, 2008 – Butler Common Sense

Mar. 19, 2008 – Butler Who Can

Mar. 20, 2008 – Butler Shame

Mar. 20, 2008 – Gableman Slimy Attack

Mar. 22, 2008 – Gableman Too Far

Mar. 25, 2008 – Gableman Imagine

Mar. 25, 2008 – Loophole Louie

Mar. 26, 2008 – Better Choice

Mar. 27, 2008 – Khol for Butler

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Buying Time—2008: Wisconsin
Analysis