Supreme Court Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson sues over passage of constitutional amendment

MADISON (AP) – Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson has filed a federal lawsuit to try to ensure she is not removed from her post.

Abrahamson filed the lawsuit Wednesday, April 8th -- a day after voters approved a constitutional amendment changing the process for selecting the chief justice.

For the past 126 years the position has gone to the most senior member of the court. The amendment lets the seven justices decide who will be the chief.

The liberal Abrahamson was expected to be voted out by the four-justice conservative majority.

Abrahamson argues in the lawsuit that the change should not be applied until after her current term ends in 2019. If it is applied, she argues it would be a violation of her constitutional due process rights.