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Keeping an Eye
on the Courts.

The Institute for Reforming Government’s Court Watch initiative tracks the activity of Wisconsin courts and informs the public on their importance. We publish transparent, evidence-based scorecards of Wisconsin Supreme Court justices and Court of Appeals judges—and explain, in plain language, how their decisions shape elections, schools, family life, and the regulatory burden on Wisconsin’s households and businesses.

Latest News

From Court Watch.

The latest news, judicial primers, and reports—published the moment they’re released.

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The Institute for Reforming Government.

About Court Watch

The Institute for Reforming Government’s Court Watch initiative will track the activity of Wisconsin Courts and inform the public on their importance. From decisions on election laws, to school choice, to regulations impacting our freedoms, the courts play a crucial role in our everyday lives. Often overlooked, the courts have a quiet but giant role in nearly everything we do, yet most Wisconsinites are unaware of what they do or who even sits on the various benches.

Much of the work of the courts is veiled behind legal jargon and procedure. IRG’s Court Watch project aims to empower Wisconsinites with the knowledge of what the courts can do or have already done. Court Watch will offer oversight on Wisconsin’s judicial branch, scrutinizing its decisions and raising awareness on what it may do next.

Court Watch provides sustained oversight of Wisconsin’s judicial branch by systematically monitoring decisions from the Wisconsin Supreme Court and the Wisconsin Court of Appeals. Through scorecards, term reviews, and rapid-response judicial primers, we evaluate judges’ decision-making based on methodology—fidelity to text, adherence to precedent, respect for separation of powers, and protection of individual rights—rather than political outcomes. In doing so, Court Watch brings transparency to the judiciary and ensures that its work does not go unnoticed or misunderstood.

Wisconsin State Capitol, Madison

What Leaders Are Saying.

Wisconsinites need significant oversight on Wisconsin’s least understood branch. Voters in my district know all too well the effect the judiciary can have on our daily lives. By helping the public understand the activity of the courts, the Institute for Reforming Government is ensuring accountability and transparency from the judicial branch.
Rep. Tom Tiffany
Rep. Tom Tiffany WI-7
I am grateful for like-minded conservative organizations like IRG who care about the future of Wisconsin. Because we live, work, pay taxes and raise our families here, we all have a vested interest in succeeding. I strongly support IRG’s Court Watch initiative and their efforts to Make Wisconsin Great Again.
Meg Ellefson
Meg Ellefson Host of the podcast “Drive North with Meg Ellefson.” Former host of the Meg Ellefson Show on WSAU.
Wisconsin faces a crossroads. An activist Supreme Court will turn Wisconsin into Minnesota or Illinois. This threatens our commonsense reforms like voter ID, Act 10, and school choice. Judges in Wisconsin have a direct impact on individuals, families, businesses, and schools in our state. Despite the immense power possessed by the courts, the judicial branch is the least understood by voters. That’s why I am excited that the Institute for Reforming Government is launching Court Watch! This will help educate the public about the powers of the judicial branch. These efforts are key to the conservative comeback in the Badger State.
Scott Walker
Scott Walker 45th Governor of Wisconsin
The Team

Court Watch Team.

Jake Curtis

Jake Curtis

General Counsel & Director of Center for Investigative Oversight

Read Jake’s Bio →
Kevin M. Zielinski

Kevin M. Zielinski

Associate Counsel for Legal Reform & Oversight

Read Kevin’s Bio →
Daniel Suhr

Daniel Suhr

Adjunct Legal Fellow

Read Daniel’s Bio →
Get Involved

Transparency starts with you.

Access scorecards, primers, and reports—and help ensure Wisconsin’s courts remain accountable to the people they serve.