11 Apply To Walker For Wisconsin Supreme Court Opening

Eleven people have applied to Gov. Scott Walker to fill the upcoming vacancy on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, a list that includes a former Republican lawmaker, a former aide to Walker and the current chair of the Public Service Commission.

Some of the best-known names the list share a common trait: They were all appointed to their current jobs by Walker.

They include Mark Gundrum, a former Republican lawmaker who was appointed to a state Appeals Court judgeship by Walker; Ellen Nowak, whom Walker appointed to the Public Service Commission; Brian Hagerdorn, Walker’s former chief legal counsel who was also appointed by the governor to the Court of Appeals; and Jim Troupis, a Republican redistricting expert whom Walker appointed to the Dane County Circuit Court.

Also on the list is Randy Koschnick, a circuit court judge who ran unsuccessfully for the Supreme Court in 2009. Koschnick has his own connection to the governor’s office as his daughter is Walker’s current chief legal counsel.

In addition, the list of applicants includes Thomas Hruz, who was appointed by Walker to the Court of Appeals, and James Morrison, whom Walker appointed to a Marinette County Circuit Court judgeship.

Walker’s office said the governor planned to make his selection by July 31, which is when outgoing Justice David Prosser has announced that he will retire. Prosser is one of the court’s five conservative justices, meaning whomever Walker chooses likely won’t dramatically change the ideological balance on the court.

Because there are already judicial elections scheduled for 2017, 2018 and 2019, the person chosen by Walker won’t have to stand for election until 2020, giving them the full benefits of incumbency.

Here’s the full list of applicants:

• Andrew Brown
• Claude Covelli
• Mark Gundrum
• Brian Hagedorn
• Thomas Hruz
• Randy Koschnick
• James Morrison
• Ellen Nowak
• Paul Scoptur
• James Troupis

One applicant requested confidentiality. The governor’s office says it will release the names all finalists who interview with the governor.