MILWAUKEE — Former state Supreme Court Justice Janine Geske has made a lot of decisions on the bench but endorsing a candidate is a first for her.
"I have gone 40 years without endorsing or working for a partisan candidate, but I feel so very strongly about this election that I decided, after all this time it was too important for me not to endorse."
Justice Geske - who was appointed to the state's high court by former Republican Governor Tommy Thompson - says she's backing Joe Biden.
"The thing I like about Joe Biden is that I think he has the capability of talking to both sides," said the former justice. He's been around for a long time. He's done that in the past."
Her endorsement comes as President Trump gets ready to fill the U.S. Supreme Court vacancy after the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
"You know she was such a remarkable woman," said Geske "I'm concerned for our judiciary, I'm concerned for all the Democratic institutions we have. And I think that it's very important that Joe Biden get elected."
Geske says she has voted for both Republicans and Democrats over the years.
The Democratic presidential nominee leads President Donald Trump in the most recent Marquette Law School Poll 47%-43% which is within the margin of error.
"For years Janine Geske has been questioning conservative rulings ,jurists, and judicial philosophies on the Wisconsin Supreme Court," state Republican Party of Wisconsin Chair Andrew Hitt said in an email statement.
"It's no surprise that she'd endorse Joe Biden who refuses to reveal what liberal activist judges he'd put on the U.S. Supreme Court, said Hitt.
Biden won't say who's on his list but he did tell TMJ4's Charles Benson on Monday his first choice would be an African American woman.
"I have a number of people on that list but it's inappropriate for me to name that list."
Geske was often seen as a swing vote on the Wisconsin Supreme Court where she served from 1993 -1998 after being a Milwaukee County Circuit Judge.
She left the the high court midway through her 10 year term and held many titles at Marquette Law School where she now teaches part time.
"I look for judges who are willing to anger their friends because it's the right thing to do, said Geske. If somebody is simply handing decisions to people who have supported them, then you wonder how how impartial they are."
President Trump did make a list of potential Supreme Court nominees in 2016 that included now Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh.
On Saturday, the President is expected to nominate a woman to fill the court's vacancy with less than 40 days until Elections Day.
"President Trump has appointed and will continue to appoint judges who will uphold the Constitution and the rule of law for generations to come." said Hitt.