On May 2, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear Siefert v Alexander, 10-405. This lawsuit attacked Wisconsin’s ban on judges making public endorsements of candidates for partisan office. The 7th circuit had upheld that ban 2-1. Wisconsin does not prevent judges from endorsing candidates in non-partisan elections, but does prevent them from endorsing candidates in partisan elections. The plaintiff, a Democrat, had wanted to publicly endorse Barack Obama in 2008 and had also wanted to endorse various Democrats in 2010.

The case also involves Wisconsin’s ban on judges asking personally for campaign contributions. Wisconsin elects its state court judges in non-partisan elections. The 7th circuit had unanimously upheld that Wisconsin restriction.