To the Editor

I’ll be voting for Judge JoAnne Kloppenburg for Supreme Court Justice of Wisconsin in the primary election which will be held Feb. 16. I think Judge Kloppenburg has the education, experience and temperament to become an outstanding justice. Let me explain why.

Judge Kloppenburg has a stellar education. She received a Bachelor of Arts from Yale and a master’s degree in public affairs from Princeton. Later, she received her law degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

She demonstrated her keen interest in international affairs by joining the Peace Corps and spending three years (with her husband) in Botswana. She completed her two-year term but was asked by the Botswanian government to stay another year to direct rural development for the entire country. Her unusual leadership potential was recognized early in life.

When she returned to the U.S., she worked on the Special Supplemental Nutritional Program for women, infants and children in upstate New York, while serving as an assistant dean at Wells College in Aurora, N.Y.

While attending Law School at UW-Madison, Judge Kloppenburg interned with Chief Justice, Shirley Abrahamson and clerked for U.S. District Court Judge, Barbara Crabb. Both experiences were excellent preparation for the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

While raising three children, Judge Kloppenburg joined the Wisconsin Department of Justice (1989). In 1991 she took over as director for the environmental protection unit. She served in the Department of Justice for 23 years.

Since 1990, she has taught in the Law School at UW-Madison and was selected as Adjunct Instructor of the Year in 2011.

In 2012, Judge Kloppenburg was elected as Presiding Judge for District 4 Court of Appeals and continues to serve in that capacity. This court is one step below the Supreme Court.

Currently, the Wisconsin Supreme Court is comprised of five conservatives and two progressives. It is a myth that “philosophy” of the justices makes no difference. The justices most admired on the US Supreme Court by Judge Kloppenburg are Justices Sotomayor and Ginsburg. That tells you about her philosophy. We need this viewpoint to bring balance back to the court.

Please join me in voting for Judge JoAnne Kloppenburg on Feb. 16. We need her wisdom, experience and passion for others.

Bob Juracka

Amherst