Wisconsin Assembly to take up Supreme Court amendment

MADISON (AP) — The Wisconsin Assembly is poised to consider a constitutional amendment that would rework how the state's Supreme Court justices pick their leader.

The Wisconsin Constitution currently states that the justice with the most seniority is automatically the chief justice. But the court's conservative majority has been chafing under the leadership of liberal-leaning Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson. Under the Republican-authored amendment, the justices would vote on who serves as chief. That would allow the majority to elect someone new as chief.

The GOP-controlled state Senate approved the measure on Tuesday. The Republican-controlled Assembly is expected to take it up on Thursday. Approval would put the amendment up for a statewide vote by the people in the April 7 election.