Supreme Court candidates differ on state courts' role in federal immigration disputes
But when it came to how state courts fit into the picture if a similar surge of federal immigration agents came to Wisconsin, Lazar, who sits on Wisconsin’s District 2 Court of Appeals in Waukesha, said “it’s a federal” issue.
“In the circumstances you never want to see anyone injured or lose their life,” said Lazar. “That’s a tragedy in all respects, in every case. But I think that cooler heads have to prevail. There is a right to First Amendment freedom of speech, but I also believe that this is an excellent example of why we need our courts, in this case it’s probably federal courts, but why we need our courts to be fair, impartial and independent, to look at the facts, to make a reasoned, calm decision, and to do so fairly and justly.”
Taylor, who sits on Wisconsin’s District 4 Court of Appeals in Madison, said Wisconsin residents “are really concerned by what they’re seeing in Minnesota,” stating “they’re afraid, and I don’t blame them.” Taylor said it’s state courts that “must make sure every person who violates the law is held accountable.”
“So yes, state courts absolutely could be involved, because criminal charges are brought in state courts typically,” said Taylor. “Nobody is above the law. The Constitution applies to everyone. And so, I think that we will see some involvement, or potentially see involvement, if there are criminal charges filed in the Minnesota state courts, and that could happen here in Wisconsin as well.”
https://www.wpr.org/news/wisconsin-supreme-court-candidates-differ-state-courts-role-federal-immigration-disputes