Weeks before joining Supreme Court, Protasiewicz says 'there are not predetermined outcomes'

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- In less than five weeks, Janet Protasiewicz will be sworn onto the Wisconsin Supreme Court, shifting the balance of power in favor of progressives.

On Wednesday night, June 28, we caught up with her at a Milwaukee event as she prepares to join the court.

During a grueling political campaign that was thrust into the national spotlight, Protasiewicz did not hide her views on abortion rights and voting access. But now she maintains she can remain independent when those issues finally come before the court, and she has a say in potentially altering the state's political landscape for decades to come.

Protasiewicz said, "We need an independent Supreme Court. We need a fair Supreme Court. We need a Supreme Court where there are not predetermined outcomes."

And Protasiewicz said she's confident she can be independent, despite a bruising political campaign that brought divisive issues front and center. "I hope that as people see our court moving forward, and hopefully see us working very well together, and see a new and independent justice on the Supreme Court."

Right now, Protasiewicz is finishing her time on the Milwaukee Circuit Court before she's sworn in Aug. 1 to a 10-year term on the highest court.

She said she wants to hit the ground running, so she's spending her time reviewing Supreme Court rules and procedures.

What she is not doing, she said, is looking ahead to abortion and voting cases not yet before the court. "I don't know what kind of litigation is going to come in front of the Supreme Court. I anticipate some will, obviously. I really don't know. It all depends on how the issues are framed."

Protasiewicz said she has not looked at the state's 1849 abortion law much, though she did look at some of the hearings after her election. "I don't know. I have no idea who's going to bring litigation in front of our Supreme Court."

She said she'll judge every case on its merits and the rule of law, despite vocal opposition to the state's voting maps.

Protasiewicz said, "I think I was pretty clear during the campaign as to what my personal values were, my personal thoughts were about the way maps are currently construed."

Protasiewicz said her life didn't change much after winning the election in April. She said after a very long year on the campaign trail, it's been nice to grocery shop and walk her dog again.