MONROE - Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Waunakee, was honored Friday by the State Bar of Wisconsin for his work in judicial campaign finance reform.

Erpenbach said he was honored to receive the award. He said the recent Wisconsin Supreme Court election opened the eyes of people across the state as to why reforms need to be in place for judicial campaigns.

Erpenbach said outside groups spend money in elections and there isn't much accountability.

"You don't even know who some of these groups are," he said.

Erpenbach said he will continue to work for campaign finance reform in the future.

One of the people who received the award is Sen. Michael Ellis, R-Neehah. Erpenbach said he and Ellis have worked together and will continue to work together in the future. There are people on both sides of the aisle who feel the same way as he and Ellis, Erpenbach said.

The issue of reform is an important one, state bar president Tom Basting said. He said it's important people have faith in the judicial system.

"The infiltration of special interest money and third party groups into our judicial election threatens to undercut the very foundations of that confidence," Basting said.

He said Erpenbach and Ellis helps bolster confidence in the courts' fairness.

Rep. Pedro Colon, D-Milwaukee, and Rep. John Townsend, R-Fond du Lac, also received awards from the state bar.