IRG Court
Watch.
Wisconsin’s independent judicial accountability project—tracking the courts, scoring the judges, and informing the public.
The Institute for Reforming Government.
The Institute for Reforming Government’s Court Watch initiative tracks the activity of Wisconsin’s courts and informs 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 offers 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.
How We Evaluate Judges.
Each judge is scored on five metrics, weighted to reflect the core obligations of the judicial role. Scores run from 0–100 — no letter grades.
Does the judge apply the actual words of statutes and constitutional provisions, rather than importing policy preferences or extra-textual meaning?
Does the judge apply binding precedent consistently, treat like cases alike, and explain clearly when and why prior holdings are distinguished or overruled?
Does the judge respect the constitutional boundaries between branches—declining to legislate from the bench or defer improperly to executive agencies?
Does the judge robustly enforce constitutional protections for individual rights and liberties, with appropriate skepticism toward government overreach?
Does the judge write clearly and concisely, engage fairly with opposing arguments, and maintain professional conduct throughout proceedings?
Court Watch Team.
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.
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.
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!
Transparency starts with you.
Access scorecards, primers, and reports—and help ensure Wisconsin’s courts remain accountable to the people they serve.