By Gregg Moore, for the CVPost
The late Shirley Abrahamson was a renowned Wisconsin Supreme Court jurist, regarded by admirers and critics alike as a passionate advocate for justice.
She died on Saturday (Dec. 19), two days after her 87th birthday.
For the past 35 years or so, I had the good fortune to work with Shirley (she wasn’t much for titles, even though I always addressed her as Justice or Chief in person). I was the court administrator for the 13 counties in northwest Wisconsin from 1984 until my retirement in 2008.
Chief Justice Abrahamson later appointed me to the Wisconsin Access to Justice Commission and the Supreme Court’s Planning and Policy Advisory Committee. In these various roles, I saw first-hand the effort and commitment she made to advancing the highest ideals of equal justice under the law.
I am not a lawyer and I am not qualified to comment on her judicial decision-making. But it is the Supreme Court that is responsible for superintending and administrative authority over all the courts in Wisconsin.
Efforts benefited state’s citizens
I believe she, both as a justice and as chief justice, helped initiate and promote numerous noteworthy efforts that had major beneficial impacts for the citizens of Wisconsin.
Some of the Wisconsin court system’s most significant efforts, for which Shirley was an outspoken advocate, included:
- Court Interpreters (to ensure effective communication for hearing-impaired and those with language barriers);
- Self-represented litigants (helping low-income litigants who can’t afford attorneys in civil and family law cases);
- Public outreach programs (to educate the public about the state’s court system);
- Courthouse security (enhancing safety of litigants, the public and court personnel);
- Children and family court improvement (to protect abused and neglected children);
- Strategic planning (for the court system’s future, with broad input);
- Effective criminal justice strategies (such as promoting treatment courts, evidence-based decision making, and improved responses to people with mental illness);
- Court automation (providing nationally renowned automation, including widely used public access);
- Pubic trust and confidence (fostering public appreciation and respect for the judicial branch).
Using annual messages
When she was chief justice, she used her annual State of the Judiciary messages to inform and inspire.
She would often say, “I end this State of the Judiciary address as I have ended the others. The court system needs your help. We must work together. Keep in touch. I am in the telephone book”, and then she gave her direct line phone number. She was approachable, and she strongly encouraged collaboration.
Shirley always had a personal touch. In 1995, then Chief Justice Roland Day announced that he would retire on August 1, 1996 (and therefore, Justice Abrahamson would become chief justice because of her seniority on the bench).
In the year prior to her becoming chief justice, Shirley would come to our court administrator meetings to listen in and learn about issues. She wanted to know as much as she could, which was appreciated.
She was generous with her time. One year, the National Association for Court Management (NACM) was holding its mid-year winter conference in Minneapolis. At the request of the NACM Board, I asked Chief Justice Abrahamson to be a keynote speaker. Notwithstanding her busy schedule and the expected wintry conditions, she readily agreed.
Shirley traveled the state extensively to listen to and learn from local judges, court staff and county officials. On occasion I would accompany her.
Typically, she would walk into a clerk of court office (where employees didn’t know she was the chief justice) and she would simply introduce herself by saying, “Hello, I’m Shirley Abrahamson,” and then shake the employee’s hand and ask about his or her work.
Not serious to a fault
Although she was a serious person who took her responsibilities seriously, she could have some fun occasionally. One of my fond memories is her dancing to the song “Mustang Shirley” at the annual Judicial Conference. The band that played at an evening reception was made up of lawyers and judges, and the song (with appropriately revised lyrics) was to the tune of “Mustang Sally.”
She was a strong supporter of Wisconsin’s counties, recognizing that both the state and counties have a shared responsibility for funding the judicial branch. Because of the respect she earned from county leaders, Chief Justice Abrahamson received the annual Friend of County Government award from the Wisconsin Counties Association in 2007.
From 2008 to 2018 when I was Chair of the Eau Claire County Board of Supervisors, my path continued to cross with Shirley’s. She was a frequent attendee at the Chamber of Commerce’s Chippewa Valley Rally receptions in Madison. And she often attended statewide events of the Wisconsin Counties Association.
Shirley was always kind and generous to me. I was particularly touched when she travelled to Eau Claire to speak at my court retirement party in 2008. I am deeply grateful that she was a part of my life.
Deep commitment to the law
Finally, I want to share a story that resonated with me and that demonstrated the depth of her commitment to the law and public service.
In 2006 the State Bar of Wisconsin held a well-attended reception in the rotunda of the State Capitol to celebrate three milestones of Shirley Abrahamson: her 50th year as a lawyer, her 30th year as a Supreme Court justice, and her 10th year as chief justice.
In her remarks she said, “Thank you all for coming here today to help me celebrate,” then she paused briefly, “the mid-point of my career.” Everyone laughed and understood her message. She planned to continue working and running for re-election for as long as she remained intellectually sharp and able-bodied.
By contributing so much to making Wisconsin and the world a better place, Shirley Abrahamson left a profound legacy. She moved society much closer to that aspirational goal we speak of in the Pledge of Allegiance: “justice for all.”
bob brown says
A fitting tribute to someone the state of Wisconsin will truly miss. Well done, Gregg.