How does the election of Kloppenburg affect the balance of the Court?

[ReturnoftheDjedi]

From what I can tell, it looks like it was 4 Repukes, 3 Dems beforehand.

Does this make it a Democratic Court??

A Court which is eventually going to rule on Walker's Sham Bill.

UPDATE: Sorry. It's actually a 7 person Court. I adjusted my numbers.

[gateley]

1. That's what I read, too. nt

[goddess40]

2. that would be four independents and three

bought and paid for by big business.

[Scuba]

5. Seven total is correct. It'll be 4-3 leaning left with JoAnne replacing Prosser.

[bluestate10]

3. The court will go 5-4 Dem, with Kloppenburg adding a power liberal presence. nt

[drm604]

4. It makes it 5 Dems and 4 Repubs.

However that new court probably won't rule on Walker's bill. My understanding is that the swearing in doesn't occur until August. If the bill does come before the WI SC, it would probably be before then. Which means the current court, including Prosser, would be ruling on it.

[Tx4obama]

6. It might. Because ....

the next court date in Judge Sumi's court isn't until in June.
So, if it goes to the SC after that it might not heard and ruled on until Kloppenburg has been seated.

[drm604]

7. I stand corrected.

Thank you for the information.

[happyslug]

8. Unless the Supreme Court takes the case first

Wisconsin is a State that Supreme Court has what is called "The King's Bench power" i.e. the right to take over any case presented in any inferior court at any time and hear the case itself.

This was discussed some times ago at the following cite:
http://election.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=4786179&mesg_id=4786488

Actual report from the Administrator of Pennsylvania Court that shows Wisconsin was similar to Pennsylvania in that its Supreme Court also had the power of the "King's Bench".:
http://www.courts.state.pa.us/NR/rdonlyres/96F816DA-D829-4485-960E-642C92E866E5/0/8395AOPCChiefCounselTestifiesonKingsBenchAuthorityasSafetyValve.pdf

This power is rarely used by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, and is as rare in other States, but the Wisconsin Supreme Court does have the RIGHT to do so.