Butler Got Support From Former Opponent

Supreme Court Justice Louis Butler once got some unexpected support that most political candidates don't see - a contribution from a former opponent.

Butler's campaign records show he received a $100 contribution March 25, 2002 from then-Supreme Court Justice Diane Sykes. Butler, a Milwaukee municipal judge at the time, was running for a Milwaukee County Circuit Court judgeship. He won the race.

Interestingly, Sykes, who was appointed to the high court by former Republican Tommy Thompson in 1999 to fill a vacancy caused by a retiring justice, was challenged by Butler when she had to run for election in 2000.

Sykes won the election but left the state Supreme Court in 2004 before finishing her term when President Bush picked her for a federal judgeship. Democratic Governor Jim Doyle then picked Butler to replace Sykes.

That aside, a lot of people would view Sykes and Butler as ideological opposites with Sykes leaning right and Butler leaning left.

Butler faces election to his own term on the court April 1 against Burnett County Circuit Judge Mike Gableman.