Judge Randy Koshnick, a self-described conservative, is running against Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson for a 10-year term on the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Abrahamson was first appointed to the court by Gov. Patrick Lucey, a Democrat, in 1976. She won 10-year terms in 1979, 1989 and 1999. She became chief justice, a post given to the most senior member of the court, in 1976.

In her already long career on the state Supreme Court, Abrahamson, 75, has been a very capable administrator of the court and a distinguished justice. She has a long record of written decisions. If voters return Abrahamson to the court, they know what they will be getting: an intelligent, fair, hardworking chief justice who brings honor to the state of Wisconsin.

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Her opponent, Jefferson County Circuit Court Judge Randy Koshnick, 49, has criticized her for being a liberal activist on the court. He has particularly been critical of a couple of cases where he viewed the court’s decision as bad for business. In turn, Abrahamson has said Koshnick is indicating with his criticism how he might rule on future cases involving business interests.

Koschnick worked as a public defender in La Crosse County and Jefferson County before being elected judge in Jefferson County in 1999. He was re-elected in 2005.

He describes himself as a conservative, one in line with Chief Justice John Roberts of the U.S. Supreme Court. He objects to judges who “legislate from the bench” and accuses Abrahamson of being one of them.

For the legal professionals in Wisconsin, Abrahamson is the clear favorite. She is endorsed by a majority of the state’s district attorneys and 250 judges. Although Koschnick claims Abrahamson’s decisions have “tied the hands of law enforcement,” apparently a substantial part of the law enforcement community disagrees. More than 100 police chiefs have endorsed her.

Shirley Abrahamson has been a distinguished public servant for 33 years. We recommend voters give her another 10-year term on the court.