MONROE - Justice for all is more than just an idealistic concept for Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson.
"You attend law school with the dream of a just society," Abrahamson said Thursday at a special speaking event at the Monroe Arts Center.
She combined humor and seriousness in her explanation about what she called, "the least known, and least understood, branch of government" - the judicial branch.
Courts settle disputes between neighbors, businesses and families, she said. They do it by applying the law.
"A judge should have no agenda and no ideology," she said. "They decide cases based on law, not by what's popular. Judges should be fair, neutral, non-partisan and independent."
The great thing about the courts, she said, is that people generally agree with the ruling from the bench. If they disagree, they can appeal the judge's decision.
Being a judge in a courtroom is like being the judge at a flower show, she said with a smile.
"They look at the plant. We look at the law. Not everyone agrees with our decisions, but you want us both to be fair."
The state Supreme Court takes between 75 and 100 cases a year. Each case is selected because it has statewide implications.
But there's more to the Supreme Court than cases, she said.
The court sets rules for evidence gathering, and sets a code for judicial conduct and professional responsibility, and when judges should remove themselves from cases to avoid conflicts of interest.
The court also has taken steps to help people who need legal assistance.
"Access to the justice is important," Abrahamson said.
The court established a system to help people defend themselves in family court cases or in foreclosure cases. The Supreme Court set up a system to help veterans with mental or drug problems get the help for their problems. It also is working to make sure interpreters are available for people who don't speak English.
"You can't have justice if you don't know what's happening to you," she said.
Abrahamson was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1976. She was the first woman to serve on the court. In 1996, she was appointed chief justice of the Supreme Court.
When she was elected to her first 10-year term in 1979, she took public financing and the campaigns weren't negative. Last year when she sought another term, her campaign raised $1.5 million and the ads during her campaign were negative.
Still, she supports judicial elections rather than judicial appointments. People need to learn about the candidates and vote, she said.
"What happens in court affects all of you," she said.
Abrahamson also encouraged people to visit their local county courthouses.
"They're very interesting," she said, with a slight smile. "They're warm in the winter, cool in the summer, free and the bathrooms are generally clean."
"You attend law school with the dream of a just society," Abrahamson said Thursday at a special speaking event at the Monroe Arts Center.
She combined humor and seriousness in her explanation about what she called, "the least known, and least understood, branch of government" - the judicial branch.
Courts settle disputes between neighbors, businesses and families, she said. They do it by applying the law.
"A judge should have no agenda and no ideology," she said. "They decide cases based on law, not by what's popular. Judges should be fair, neutral, non-partisan and independent."
The great thing about the courts, she said, is that people generally agree with the ruling from the bench. If they disagree, they can appeal the judge's decision.
Being a judge in a courtroom is like being the judge at a flower show, she said with a smile.
"They look at the plant. We look at the law. Not everyone agrees with our decisions, but you want us both to be fair."
The state Supreme Court takes between 75 and 100 cases a year. Each case is selected because it has statewide implications.
But there's more to the Supreme Court than cases, she said.
The court sets rules for evidence gathering, and sets a code for judicial conduct and professional responsibility, and when judges should remove themselves from cases to avoid conflicts of interest.
The court also has taken steps to help people who need legal assistance.
"Access to the justice is important," Abrahamson said.
The court established a system to help people defend themselves in family court cases or in foreclosure cases. The Supreme Court set up a system to help veterans with mental or drug problems get the help for their problems. It also is working to make sure interpreters are available for people who don't speak English.
"You can't have justice if you don't know what's happening to you," she said.
Abrahamson was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1976. She was the first woman to serve on the court. In 1996, she was appointed chief justice of the Supreme Court.
When she was elected to her first 10-year term in 1979, she took public financing and the campaigns weren't negative. Last year when she sought another term, her campaign raised $1.5 million and the ads during her campaign were negative.
Still, she supports judicial elections rather than judicial appointments. People need to learn about the candidates and vote, she said.
"What happens in court affects all of you," she said.
Abrahamson also encouraged people to visit their local county courthouses.
"They're very interesting," she said, with a slight smile. "They're warm in the winter, cool in the summer, free and the bathrooms are generally clean."