Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Annette Ziegler Announces Retirement

Ziegler will not seek re-election in 2027 after 30 years on the bench.

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Annette Ziegler has announced that she will not be seeking re-election in 2027, after serving on the state's highest court for the past 30 years. Ziegler, who was first elected to the Supreme Court in 2007 and re-elected in 2017 without opposition, stated that it is the right time for her to step away and spend more time with her family.

Why it matters

Justice Ziegler's retirement will mark the end of an era on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, as she has been a prominent and influential figure on the state's highest court for three decades. Her departure will create an open seat that will be hotly contested, as the ideological balance of the court could shift depending on who is elected to replace her.

The details

In her announcement, Ziegler expressed gratitude to the voters who elected her twice to the Washington County bench and then twice to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. She also thanked her colleagues on the Supreme Court for selecting her to serve as chief justice for two terms. Prior to her Supreme Court service, Ziegler had a distinguished legal career, serving as an Assistant United States Attorney, a Special Assistant District Attorney, and a private practice attorney representing Wisconsin businesses.

  • Justice Ziegler was first elected to the Wisconsin Supreme Court in 2007.
  • She was re-elected to the Supreme Court in 2017 without opposition.
  • Ziegler will not be seeking re-election to the Wisconsin Supreme Court in 2027.

The players

Annette Ziegler

Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice who has served on the state's highest court for the past 30 years.

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What they’re saying

“It has been the honor of my lifetime to serve as judge and justice for the past 30 years. I will be forever grateful to the voters who elected me twice in Washington County and then twice to serve on our state's highest court.”

— Annette Ziegler, Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice (washingtoncountyinsider.com)

What’s next

The 2027 election for Ziegler's seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court is expected to be highly competitive, as the ideological balance of the court could shift depending on who is elected to replace her.

The takeaway

Justice Ziegler's retirement after three decades of service on the Wisconsin Supreme Court marks the end of an era, as she has been a prominent and influential figure on the state's highest court. Her departure will create an open seat that will be hotly contested, with the potential to shift the ideological balance of the court.