• 
• CLASS
• JOBS
• AUTO
• HOMES

Marquette law professor joins Wis. Supreme Court race

MILWAUKEE — Marquette University law professor Ed Fallone announced Monday that he plans to run for the Wisconsin Supreme Court next spring, becoming the third announced candidate and essentially assuring that a primary will be needed in February.

Fallone plans to challenge incumbent Justice Patience Roggensack, a member of the court's conservative majority who is running for re-election. Attorney Vince Megna is also running, and Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi is considering a run.

Candidates must submit 2,000 valid signatures by Jan. 2. If at least three candidates do so, a primary will be held Feb. 19. The two highest vote-getters will then advance to the April general election.

Fallone, a Whitefish Bay native who describes himself as an expert on constitutional and corporate law, promised to be fair and impartial on the bench. He also said people around the state urged him to run because they think Wisconsin's high court has become too politicized.

"The Wisconsin Supreme Court is dysfunctional," Fallone said in a statement, "and the only way to fix it is to change the personalities on the bench."

His statement alluded to an alleged physical altercation between two justices.

The Wisconsin Judicial Commission accused Justice David Prosser of violating judicial ethics when he allegedly wrapped his hands around the neck of Justice Ann Walsh Bradley during an argument last year. Prosser contends he inadvertently touched her neck when he put up his hands in a reflexive move to defend himself.