Former Wisconsin Attorney General and state Supreme Court candidate Brad Schimel, middle, greets Donald Trump Jr., as Charlie Kirk looks on during a town hall Monday, March 17, 2025, in Oconomowoc, Wis. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Conservative Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Brad Schimel boasts a record of breaking promises and ethical norms as an elected official.

Shortly after announcing his candidacy in November 2023, Schimel pledged that he would never prejudge a case or put his views above the law, claiming that “there is no check on the liberal Supreme Court majority.” He accused liberal Justice Janet Protasiewicz of campaigning on prejudged cases in 2023.

“We need to restore confidence in the people of Wisconsin that the justice system will be fair and impartial,” Schimel said. “I will be honest about my principles but will never prejudge a case and will never put my views above the law.”

Schimel is running to replace retiring liberal Justice Anne Bradley Walsh, and his election would swing the balance of the court back to the conservatives. After the election next Tuesday, the Wisconsin Supreme Court is slated to rule on several key issues including abortion rights, collective bargaining rights for unions and potentially redistricting for congressional maps, the latter of which could tip the balance of power in the United States House of Representatives.

Despite his pledge, Schimel publicly weighed his thoughts on Wisconsin’s 1849 abortion law that the Supreme Court is set to decide the validity of. Last May, Schimel told a room of supporters that he believes the law, which bans abortion with no exceptions for rape or incest, is valid.

Schimel has also offered public statements opposing the court’s decision to overturn the state’s gerrymandered legislative maps, which had been drawn by Republicans to preserve GOP majorities since the early 2010s.

“Wisconsin’s legislative maps were already reviewed and approved by both the Supreme Court of the United States and Supreme Court of Wisconsin,” Schimel said in a statement. “It’s troubling that because the membership of a court changes, we can have a new outcome the following year. This should come as a surprise to no one. This is the super-legislature that was promised by this liberal majority. If there’s any question as to why I’m in this race, this is why. This kind of judicial activism will do long-term damage to our state and to respect for our courts. No one should expect that this case will be the last.”

Schimel also opposes the repeal of Act 10, a Republican-written law that limited the collective bargaining abilities of public workers and teachers’ unions in Wisconsin. The liberal justices on the Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down Act 10 last December and restored bargaining rights for thousands in the state. Act 10 was originally proposed and signed into law by former Gov. Scott Walker (R), whom Schimel served under as the state attorney general from 2015-19.

Schimel blasted the decision and vowed to defend Act 10 if he were elected to the state Supreme Court. His support for Act 10 earned Schimel an endorsement and support from Americans for Prosperity (AFP) state director Megan Novak. AFP is a far-right advocacy group backed by the Koch brothers that spent millions in support of Walker and Act 10 in the 2010s.

Schimel, who is an outspoken supporter of President Donald Trump, has also received major financial support from Elon Musk. Schimel and the Wisconsin GOP have attacked liberal opponent Susan Crawford for accepting donations from “out of state billionaires,” despite Musk-aligned groups spending north of $12 million for Schimel’s campaign and both candidates receiving exorbitant contributions.

While serving as Wisconsin’s attorney general, Schimel came under fire for failing to address an extensive backlog of untested rape kits, which he lied to the public about and deflected blame to the victims. Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt, who has appeared in pro-Schimel ads this cycle, has defended Schimel’s record on the rape kits. And during the 2024 election, Schmidt reportedly pressured county clerks to avoid using absentee ballot drop boxes.

Schimel also used is office to help lead a lawsuit to overturn the Affordable Care Act. Also, Schimel has also refused to condemn Trump for pardoning violent criminal who participated in the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, despite saying that violent criminals should be prosecuted.

Whoever wins next Tuesday’s election will likely determine the court’s partisan slant until 2030.