1954 Wisconsin Supreme Court election


The 1954 Wisconsin Supreme Court election was held on Tuesday, April 6, 1954 to elect a justice to a full ten-year seat the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Incumbent justice Roland J. Steinle won the election, defeating William H. Dieterich in the general election by a sizable margin. Prior to the general election, a nonpartisan primary was held in which both Steinle and Dieterich advanced over Perry J. Stearns.

Background

In 1953, incumbent justice Oscar Fritz announced that he would not seek re-election in 1954. In December 1953, he retired early from his seat, and Governor Walter J. Kohler Jr. appointed Roland J. Steinle to fill the vacancy. Due to the timing of Fritz's retirement though this change did not impact the 1954 election since a regularly scheduled ten-year election to this seat had already been scheduled in 1954 before the vacancy arose.

Candidates