During an election year we hear a lot of rhetoric about “making your voice heard.” The implication is, of course, that the person you cast your ballot for will represent your principles and positions on the issues; he or she will be someone who will be your “voice” in government. It’s a comforting thought, but there’s a pretty significant catch to it. What if the values and principles of the person you vote for do not, in fact, represent your own? That begs the question, “What’s really at stake” in an election?

I submit to you that instead of talking about “making our voices heard,” we need to seriously consider how we can makeour vote count. And that can be done, I believe, by being informed about what’s at stake in the election—how the candidates’ principles inform the way they would fulfill their duties.

The upcoming election on Tuesday, April 1 st will give you an opportunity to put this idea to practice. The April 1 st election is an important one. On April 1 st, you have the opportunity to make your vote count by electing a judge to a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, the highest court in the state. There are two candidates for the Supreme Court, Justice Louis Butler (the incumbent) and Judge Michael Gableman, a Burnett County Circuit Court judge. I urge you to not only vote but to vote knowledgeably and responsibly—informed on the issues at stake and the character and judicial philosophy of the candidates.

Much is at stake in this election, as we elect a justice who will be on the court for a ten-year term. The balance of the court is perhaps the most important part of this race. Traditionally, high courts have attempted to maintain at least the illusion of balance among justices who might be seen as having “liberal” ideologies and those with “conservative” ideologies. In recent years, as some courts have been more involved with social change (for example, abortion, marriage, pornography, etc.) and seem to have agendas, people have become more aware of how critical “the balance of the court” truly is. Most observers of our courts believe that Wisconsin’s high court, as it is currently comprised, has 3 so-called “liberal” justices, 3 so-called “conservative” justices and one swing vote.

I think the best way to understand the labels “liberal” or “conservative” in the judicial context is to consider how the justices interpret the Constitution—or in other words, their judicial philosophy. A strict constructionist judge interprets the Constitution (be it state or U.S.) as the founders originally intended it to be. A more “liberal” judge adheres to the concept of a “living document” that allows for interpretation in light of current cultural changes and societal situations and trends.

Given the current makeup of our state Supreme Court, it’s obvious that this election will impact the balance of the court. So what’s at stake here? What issues might be before the court that this balance could impact? For starters, Wisconsin’s Marriage Protection Amendment, passed by nearly 60% of the electorate in November 2006, is now being challenged in the courts. It is highly likely that this case will eventually land in the State Supreme Court. Should that happen, the balance of the court will be profoundly important.

Cases dealing with pro-life issues, crime, business matters, school choice, gambling expansion and other important issues will be before the court. The balance of the court and the judicial philosophies of the justices will be critical in determining the court’s rulings on these matters. The precedence these decisions establish will last for decades. There can be no question that your vote on the Supreme Court race will count, and will count for a long time.

In order to help you make your vote count, we’ve developed a resource for the April 1 st election. On our website, at www.wifamilycouncil.org, we have a page devoted to the upcoming Spring Non-Partisan Election that includes a Voter Information Sheet on the Supreme Court candidates and the statewide referendum dealing with the governor’s veto authority, as well as an Additional Resources page with links to articles on the election. The Voter Information Sheet is for educational purposes only and does not endorse a candidate and therefore is safe for your church to distribute. Call toll-free 888-378-7395 for more information. Please take time to get informed on the issues and the candidates, including your local races, understand what’s at stake, and make your vote count on Tuesday, April 1 st.

For Wisconsin Family Council, I’m Julaine Appling, reminding you the Prophet Hosea said, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”