Third Branch eNews

Chief Justice Ann Walsh Bradley joined state leaders at the Wisconsin State Capitol on May 2 to kick off the 2025 Wisconsin Civics Games Finals, encouraging high school students from across the state to see civic engagement not just as a duty, but as a way of life.

“I used to be a high school teacher, and my heart and soul remains with teaching,” Chief Justice Bradley said. “I just do it in a different way now.” She went on to praise the students for their dedication and preparation while emphasizing the importance of the event.

The Wisconsin Civics Games, organized by the Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation, brings together top-performing high school teams from around the state to compete in a quiz-style tournament focused on government, history, and the Constitution. This year’s finals featured students from 12 schools, with scholarships awarded to each member of the championship team.

Chief Justice Bradley shared a favorite historical anecdote, recalling Benjamin Franklin’s response at the close of the Constitutional Convention when asked what kind of government had been created: “A republic, madam, if you can keep it.” She added, “They knew forming a government was fragile. Preserving it is an even greater challenge—and that’s what we’re doing here today, step by step.”

Chief Justice Bradley also highlighted the Wisconsin Court System’s civic education initiative, Court with Class, which brings high school students to the Capitol to observe oral arguments and meet with justices. “It’s a national award-winning program that’s been running for 29 years,” she said. “Over 50,000 students have participated statewide. It’s one of the tools we use to advance civic education and help preserve our form of government.”

Civic education has long been a passion of Chief Justice Bradley. In addition to her work on the bench, Chief Justice Bradley served as Wisconsin’s coordinator for iCivics, a national nonprofit founded by former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. The program uses games and lesson plans to make civics more accessible and engaging for students.

Chief Justice Bradley was joined at the event by Attorney General Josh Kaul, State Superintendent Jill Underly, and Jay Rothman, President of the University of Wisconsin System. All emphasized the importance of preparing young people to participate fully in public life.

“Hopefully, you all graduate, go on to higher education, get good jobs, and have a happy life. But also, we want you to be productive and knowledgeable citizens. That’s the way we preserve it,” Chief Justice Bradley concluded.