Ever get tired around any election time of the often redundant debate between Republicans and Democrats about the same issues? I know I have often felt frustrated at the lack of a meaningful third party around election time. I also feel restricted around election time because everyone is trying to force you into a label – you are either a liberal and vote for the Democratic candidate, or you are a conservative and vote for the Republican candidate.

Accompanied with this forced label are stereotypical beliefs. Suddenly during one of the most prized practices in a free democracy, the vote has been cheapened because your choice of beliefs on different policies has been replaced by either a donkey or an elephant. Guess what?

There is an oasis from these constructed labels and the power of choice is given back to the individual during the general election for the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Voting for positions on the state Supreme Court does not involve a single party interest and in fact, the beauty of the election is that candidates such as Linda Clifford stress the importance of bipartisan viewpoint on justice issues. Justices on the state Supreme Court need to display a nonpartisan view and a strong dedication to judicial independence from external political pressures. The law in the state of Wisconsin is meant to be applied equally amongst all of its citizens and not favor one party over the other.

This is evidenced by justices such as Justice Shirley Abrahamson whose focus on judicial facts and details gave an important decision on case Kenneth Jones v. Wisconsin Auto Title Loans Inc., on arbitration issue. Her nonpartisan decision and focus resulted in the step toward protecting low-income consumers from predatory auto title lending practices. Cases such as these demand a nonpartisan viewpoint and a focus on the facts results in a decision that benefits the citizens of Wisconsin.

This example is why Clifford should be elected to the Wisconsin State Supreme Court. Clifford is similar to Abrahamson because she not only focuses on the nonpartisan nature of her position but has valuable personal and professional experience. To Clifford, it is just the facts, because justice is blind to political affiliations.

Dettmann is a senior in the College of Arts & Sciences.