Rape kits resurface as campaign issue in Wisconsin Supreme Court race MITCHELL SCHMIDT Jan 31, 2025 Jan 31, 2025 Updated Mar 17, 2025 Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save kAm(:E9 E96 (:D4@?D:? $FAC6>6 r@FCE 6=64E:@? ?62C=J EH@ >@?E9D 2H2J[ A@=:E:42= 25D =2F?4965 3J 3@E9 42?5:52E6D CF??:?8 7@C E96 DE2E6’D 9:896DE 4@FCE 92G6 5C65865 FA E96 :DDF6 @7 D6IF2= 2DD2F=E <:ED — 2 E@A:4 E92E 7:CDE 2C@D6 >@C6 E92? 2 564256 28@ 2?5 3642>6 2 >2;@C A@:?E @7 4@?E6?E:@? :? E96 DE2E6’D a_`g 2EE@C?6J 86?6C2= C246]k^AmkAm%96 pAC:= ` 6=64E:@? A:ED =:36C2= s2?6 r@F?EJ r:C4F:E r@FCE yF586 $FD2? rC2H7@C5 282:?DE 4@?D6CG2E:G6 (2F<6D92 r@F?EJ r:C4F:E r@FCE yF586 qC25 $49:>6= 7@C 2 `_\J62C E6C> @? E96 4@FCE]k^AmkAm{:36C2=D D64FC65 2 c\b >2;@C:EJ @? E96 4@FCE :? a_ab[ 2?5 E96 H:??6C :? pAC:= H:== ;@:? E96 36?49 :? pF8FDE[ 7:==:?8 E96 D62E 4FCC6?E=J 96=5 3J 56A2CE:?8 =:36C2= yFDE:46 p?? (2=D9 qC25=6J] $:?46 E9:D 6=64E:@? H:== 56E6C>:?6 H96E96C 4@?D6CG2E:G6D C64=2:> 4@?EC@= @7 E96 4@FCE[ @C =:36C2=D >2:?E2:? :E[ E96 6=64E:@? :D 2=C625J 5C2H:?8 >2;@C DA6?5:?8 2?5 ?2E:@?H:56 2EE6?E:@?]k^Am People are also reading… Two retired Walworth County sheriff's officers hired to Lake Geneva Police Department Wisconsin Department of Transportation to host meeting about upcoming road improvement project New Visit Lake Geneva partner has the right look and feel for special events Look Ahead: Maple Fest plus plenty of live music, comedy & more this weekend in Lake Geneva Wisconsin men's hockey's largest home playoff loss in 45 years started poorly, got worse Look Ahead: Gary Con, fundraiser to help animals & a Balloon Adventure begins in Lake Geneva Lake Geneva school district set to implement updated facilities and grade configuration plan Lake Geneva BID considers adding Oktoberfest coordinator Bottom line on Trump Wisconsin men's basketball 7-footer 'doing more every day' following apparent ankle injury MLB Free Agency: Tarik Skubal could set more contract records next offseason Action-comedy 'She Kills Monsters' to take Kenosha stage Wisconsin's Nick Boyd doesn't need All-Big Ten snub to motivate him. He's always this way US military refueling plane goes down in Iraq; 4 dead as rescue efforts continue UW-Madison stays open, but other campuses close for Monday’s blizzard kAmrC2H7@C5’D 42>A2:8? 92D 2=C625J 9:E $49:>6= @? E96 :DDF6 @7 D6IF2= 2DD2F=E 7@C6?D:4 6I2>D[ 2=D@ <?@H? 2D “D6IF2= 2DD2F=E <:ED” @C “C2A6 <:ED[” k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]J@FEF36]4@>^H2E49nGlH(caC85G&<<Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm4=2:>:?8 :? 2 b_\D64@?5 25k^2m E92E[ H9:=6 D6CG:?8 2D 2EE@C?6J 86?6C2=[ 96 “=6E e[___ C2A6 <:ED D:E F?E6DE65 7@C EH@ J62CD H9:=6 DFCG:G@CD H2:E65 7@C ;FDE:46]”k^AmkAm$49:>6=[ >62?H9:=6[ =2F?4965 9:D @H? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]J@FEF36]4@>^H2E49nGl\2I0AJxa5;&Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qmb_\D64@?5 DA@Ek^2m @? E96 :DDF6[ :? H9:49 96 E2<6D 4C65:E 7@C =625:?8 “E96 D6IF2= 2DD2F=E <:E :?:E:2E:G6 — 4=62C:?8 c[___ 324<=@8865 E6DED D@ DFCG:G@CD 4@F=5 7:?2==J 86E ;FDE:46]”k^Am kAmx? 2 D6A2C2E6 $49:>6= 25[ s@586 r@F?EJ $96C:77 s2=6 $49>:5E[ 2 #6AF3=:42?[ 4C65:E65 $49:>6= 2D E96 5C:G:?8 7@C46 369:?5 E96 DE2E6’D $6IF2= pDD2F=E z:E x?:E:2E:G6[ @C $pzx[ 4=2:>:?8 :? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^I]4@>^%62>$49:>6=^DE2EFD^`ggaccad_hcc`ceefbcQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmE96 @?6\>:?FE6 25k^2m[ “E9:D H2D qC25 $49:>6=[ E9:D H2D 9:D :?:E:2E:G6[ E9:D H2D 9:D H@C<]”k^Am kAm%96 E@A:4 @7 C2A6 <:ED 3642>6 2 7@4FD @7 E96 DE2E6’D a_`g 2EE@C?6J 86?6C2= 4@?E6DE 36EH66? E96 E96?\:?4F>36?E $49:>6=[ H9@ H2D D66<:?8 2 D64@?5 E6C>[ 2?5 s6>@4C2E:4 492==6?86C y@D9 z2F=]k^Am kAmz2F=[ H9@ H@F=5 8@ @? E@ 56762E $49:>6= E92E J62C 2?5 :D ?@H :? 9:D D64@?5 E6C> 2D 2EE@C?6J 86?6C2=[ DA6?E >F49 @7 E92E 42>A2:8? 92>>6C:?8 $49:>6= @G6C 9@H =@?8 :E E@@< E@ E6DE E9@FD2?5D @7 F?2?2=JK65 D6IF2= 2DD2F=E <:ED E92E 925 D2E @? A@=:46 DE2E:@? 2?5 9@DA:E2= D96=G6D F?E6DE65 7@C J62CD — :? D@>6 42D6D 564256D]k^AmkAm$6IF2= 2DD2F=E <:ED 42? 4@?E2:? 6G:56?46 E92E :D 4CF4:2= E@ 7:?5:?8 D6IF2= AC652E@CD @C 7C66:?8 E9@D6 HC@?8=J 4@?G:4E65] |@DE @7 E96 28:?8 <:ED H6C6?’E E6DE65 3642FD6 DFDA64ED 925 2=C625J 366? :56?E:7:65[ AC@D64FE@CD E9@F89E E96:C 42D6D H6C6 E@@ H62< E@ 4@?E:?F6 @C G:4E:>D 564=:?65 E@ 4@@A6C2E6]k^Am kAm}@H E96 :DDF6 92D 4@>6 FA :? E96 4@?E6IE @7 E96 C246 7@C E96 DE2E6’D 9:896DE 4@FCE[ 2=E9@F89 E96 4@FCE 92D ?@ D2J @G6C 9@H (:D4@?D:? >2?286D s}p E6DE:?8]k^Amk9amr=62?FA 3682? :? a_`ak^9am kAmt77@CED E@ 6IA65:E6 E96 AC@46DD:?8 @7 D6IF2= 2DD2F=E <:ED 3682? :? =2E6 a_`a H:E9 E96 DE2E6’D pEE@C?6J v6?6C2=’D $6IF2= pDD2F=E #6DA@?D6 %62>[ @C pv $p#%[ H9:49 H2D =2F?4965 F?56C E96?\pEE@C?6J v6?6C2= y]q] '2? w@==6?]k^AmkAmx? a_`c[ 23@FE 2 >@?E9 367@C6 $49:>6= H2D 6=64E65 2EE@C?6J 86?6C2=[ E96 DE2E6 s6A2CE>6?E @7 yFDE:46 5:D4@G6C65 E96 6I:DE6?46 @7 ?62C=J f[___ F?E6DE65 C2A6 <:ED :? =2H 6?7@C46>6?E 2?5 9@DA:E2= 4FDE@5J 24C@DD E96 DE2E6[ D@>6 @7 H9:49 52E65 E@ E96 `hg_D]k^Am kAm{2E6C :? a_`d[ 27E6C $49:>6= E@@< @77:46[ 96 D64FC65 Sc >:==:@? :? 8C2?ED 7C@> E96 }6H *@C< r@F?EJ 5:DEC:4E 2EE@C?6J’D @77:46 2?5 E96 &]$] s6A2CE>6?E @7 yFDE:46 qFC62F @7 yFDE:46 pDD:DE2?46 E@ E6DE (:D4@?D:?’D 324<=@8 @7 <:ED] $49:>6= HC@E6 :? 2 |2J a_`d 2AA=:42E:@? 7@C E96 &]$] s~y 8C2?E E92E E96 7F?5D H@F=5 36 FD65 E@ “255C6DD E96 DE2E6’D 324<=@8 @7 F?\DF3>:EE65 D6IF2= 2DD2F=E <:ED[” 2>@?8 @E96C :?:E:2E:G6D]k^AmkAm~77:4:2=D H:E9 rC2H7@C5’D 42>A2:8? A@:?E65 E@ E92E E:>6=:?6 2D 6G:56?46 E92E 677@CED E@ :56?E:7J 2?5 255C6DD E96 324<=@8 3682? J62CD 367@C6 $49:>6= E@@< @77:46[ 56DA:E6 4=2:>D :? $49:>6=’D 25D E92E E96 :?:E:2E:G6 36=@?865 E@ 9:>]k^Am kAmqFE 6G6? 27E6C C646:G:?8 E96 8C2?E 7F?5D[ E96 24EF2= AC@46DD:?8 @7 <:ED E@@< J62CD E@ C2>A FA[ H:E9 E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]8C66?32JAC6DD82K6EE6]4@>^DE@CJ^?6HD^a_`f^_a^_a^DE2E6\92D\E6DE65\@?=J\h\324<=@8865\C2A6\<:ED^hfbe_hacQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmvC66? q2J !C6DD\v2K6EE6k^2m C6A@CE:?8 :? a_`f — >@C6 E92? 2 J62C 27E6C 8C2?E 7F?5D H6C6 D64FC65 — E92E $49:>6=’D @77:46 925 @?=J 4@>A=6E65 E6DED @7 ?:?6 @7 E96 C@F89=J e[___ 324<=@8865 <:ED]k^Am kAm%6DE:?8 DA65 FA =2E6C E92E J62C 2?5 3J $6AE6>36C a_`g[ 2D $49:>6= 2?5 z2F= ?62C65 E96:C }@G6>36C >2E49FA[ $49:>6= 2??@F?465 E92E 2== 3FE 7:G6 6=:8:3=6 <:ED 925 366? 4@>A=6E65] w6 D2:5 2E E96 E:>6 E96 677@CE 4@DE 23@FE Sf >:==:@? :? 8C2?E 7F?5:?8 2?5 2>@F?E65 E@ >@C6 E92? c[`__ <:ED 7@C DFCG:G@CD H9@ 4@?D6?E65 E@ E96 E6DE:?8[ H9:49 =:?6D FA H:E9 E96 “c[___ 324<=@8865 E6DED” 4:E65 :? $49:>6=’D 25]k^Am kAm$49:>6= D2:5 2E E96 E:>6 9:D @77:46 H@C<65 2D 72DE 2D A@DD:3=6 E@ 255C6DD E96 324<=@8 2?5 2== C6>2:?:?8 <:ED DF3>:EE65 7@C E6DE:?8 H@F=5 36 4@>A=6E6 3J E96 6?5 @7 E96 J62C] rC:E:4D[ >62?H9:=6[ 244FD65 $49:>6= @7 5C288:?8 9:D 766E @? E96 :DDF6[ A2CE:4F=2C=J :? 9:D 7:CDE 76H J62CD :? @77:46]k^AmkAmqJ =2E6 a_`h[ ?62C E96 6?5 @7 9:D 7:CDE J62C :? @77:46[ z2F= 2??@F?465 E92E E96 DE2E6 s~y 925 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>25:D@?]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^8@GE\2?5\A@=:E:4D^2CE:4=602b7bfad6\fhf2\dab2\hc7c\ab_f4525b4eh]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm6=:>:?2E65 E96 324<=@8k^2m 27E6C 2?2=JK:?8 ?62C=J c[d__ E@E2= <:ED D6=64E65 7@C E6DE:?8 F?56C $pzx] p=>@DE a[c__ D6IF2= 2DD2F=E <:ED H6C6 ?@E 2 A2CE @7 E96 DE2E6H:56 :?:E:2E:G6 3642FD6 E96J H6C6 ?6G6C 56D:8?2E65 7@C E6DE:?8]k^Am kAm%96 3:886DE C62D@? 2 <:E :D?’E E6DE65 7@C s}p :D E92E E96 G:4E:> 5:5 ?@E 4@?D6?E E@ E96 E6DE:?8] ~E96C C62D@?D :?4=F56 E92E E96 DFDA64E H2D 24BF:EE65[ E96 :?4:56?E 42?’E 36 492C865 2D 2 D6IF2= 2DD2F=E 3642FD6 @7 E96 DFDA64E’D 286[ @C E96 <:E H2D 4@>A=6E65 2D A2CE @7 2? 2FE@ADJ 2?5 ?@ D6IF2= 2DD2F=E H2D F=E:>2E6=J DFDA64E65]k^Am k9am$@ H92E’D E96 C6DE @7 E96 DE@CJnk^9amkAmrC2H7@C5’D 25 :D 4@CC64E E92E C@F89=J e[___ F?E6DE65 <:ED C6>2:?65 :? E96 324<=@8 23@FE 92=7H2J E9C@F89 $49:>6=’D E6C> 2D 2EE@C?6J 86?6C2=] qFE :E 2=D@ 72:=D E@ >6?E:@? E92E E96 >2;@C:EJ @7 E96 C@F89=J c[d__ E92E H6C6 6G6?EF2==J 4=62C65 H6C6 AC@46DD65 3J E96 E:>6 96 =67E @77:46]k^Am kAm(9:=6 677@CED E@ :56?E:7J 2?5 4=62C E96 DE2E6’D 324<=@8 DE2CE65 367@C6 $49:>6= E@@< @77:46[ C62= >@G6>6?E E@ 7:I E96 AC@3=6> 5:5?’E 368:? F?E:= 27E6C 9:D @77:46 D64FC65 8C2?E 7F?5D — 2=E9@F89 E96 AC@46DD DE2CE65 D=@H=J[ H:E9 ;FDE 2 92?57F= @7 E6DED 4=62C65 >:5H2J E9C@F89 $49:>6=’D E6C>]k^AmkAm$49:>6= :D 4@CC64E E92E E96 3F=< @7 E96 324<=@8 H2D 4=62C65 3J E96 6?5 @7 9:D E6C>[ 3FE :E H2D?’E F?E:= =2E6 a_`h E92E E96 DE2E6 s~y 2??@F?465 E92E 2== 324<=@8865 E6DED 925 366? 7:?2==J 255C6DD65]k^AmkAmx? 2? 677@CE E@ AC6G6?E 7FEFC6 324<=@8D[ s6>@4C2E:4 v@G] %@?J tG6CD :? a_ab D:8?65 :?E@ =2H 2 >62DFC6 E92E C6BF:C6D E96 DE2E6 4C:>6 =23@C2E@C:6D E@ AC@46DD D6IF2= 2DD2F=E <:ED H:E9:? D:I >@?E9D]k^Am Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story National Democratic Party sees Wisconsin as next priority Wisconsin has been added to a list of six "battleground" states by the state Legislature-focused fundraising arm of the national Democratic Pa… Photos: You can glide through the woods on this ice skating trail in Boulder Junction The 0.8-mile trail built on a former cross-country ski trail is in its first season and turning into a big draw. Lawmakers call for Act 10 lawsuit recusals by Wisconsin Supreme Court justices The case is all but certain to come before the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which currently holds a 4-3 liberal majority. Wisconsin Supreme Court takes up case over $50 million literacy funds The case is related to two bills focused on improving K-12 students' reading performance in the state. Judge extends pause on Act 10 ruling, citing 'utter chaos' if later reversed The case is all but certain to come before the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which currently holds a 4-3 liberal majority. What would a trade war mean for Wisconsin? "It's the instability that's one of the biggest challenges," said Missy Hughes, secretary and CEO of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. Tony Evers promises to veto GOP bill requiring counties to aid in immigration crackdown Under the proposal, if any sheriff refuses to comply with the law, that county would lose 15% of their shared revenue funding the following year. Unanimous Wisconsin Supreme Court rules Meagan Wolfe can stay on as state's top election official Wolfe faced increased GOP scrutiny following the state's 2020 presidential election and the Republican-controlled state Senate voted in 2023 t… Susan Crawford continues to lead Brad Schimel in fundraising in Wisconsin Supreme Court race The funds raised so far by the candidates far set the stage for another record-setting race for the state’s highest court. Green Bay prison would close, Waupun renovated under Gov. Tony Evers' budget Evers' proposal would spend $245.3 million to convert Waupun's prison into a medium-security institution that would become the state's first "… Elon Musk-backed group pours money into ads for Brad Schimel in Wisconsin Supreme Court race A conservative nonprofit backed by billionaire Trump adviser Elon Musk is pouring money into ads for GOP-backed Wisconsin Supreme Court candid… High-stakes Wisconsin Supreme Court race nonpartisan in name only "No one thinks that courts are apolitical entities these days, but they're still supposed to be different from, say Congress." Brad Schimel: I will 'restore objectivity' to Wisconsin Supreme Court "No litigant should come to the courtroom knowing they lost their case already before they've filed a brief, their lawyers have argued, before…
National Democratic Party sees Wisconsin as next priority Wisconsin has been added to a list of six "battleground" states by the state Legislature-focused fundraising arm of the national Democratic Pa…
Photos: You can glide through the woods on this ice skating trail in Boulder Junction The 0.8-mile trail built on a former cross-country ski trail is in its first season and turning into a big draw.
Lawmakers call for Act 10 lawsuit recusals by Wisconsin Supreme Court justices The case is all but certain to come before the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which currently holds a 4-3 liberal majority.
Wisconsin Supreme Court takes up case over $50 million literacy funds The case is related to two bills focused on improving K-12 students' reading performance in the state.
Judge extends pause on Act 10 ruling, citing 'utter chaos' if later reversed The case is all but certain to come before the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which currently holds a 4-3 liberal majority.
What would a trade war mean for Wisconsin? "It's the instability that's one of the biggest challenges," said Missy Hughes, secretary and CEO of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.
Tony Evers promises to veto GOP bill requiring counties to aid in immigration crackdown Under the proposal, if any sheriff refuses to comply with the law, that county would lose 15% of their shared revenue funding the following year.
Unanimous Wisconsin Supreme Court rules Meagan Wolfe can stay on as state's top election official Wolfe faced increased GOP scrutiny following the state's 2020 presidential election and the Republican-controlled state Senate voted in 2023 t…
Susan Crawford continues to lead Brad Schimel in fundraising in Wisconsin Supreme Court race The funds raised so far by the candidates far set the stage for another record-setting race for the state’s highest court.
Green Bay prison would close, Waupun renovated under Gov. Tony Evers' budget Evers' proposal would spend $245.3 million to convert Waupun's prison into a medium-security institution that would become the state's first "…
Elon Musk-backed group pours money into ads for Brad Schimel in Wisconsin Supreme Court race A conservative nonprofit backed by billionaire Trump adviser Elon Musk is pouring money into ads for GOP-backed Wisconsin Supreme Court candid…
High-stakes Wisconsin Supreme Court race nonpartisan in name only "No one thinks that courts are apolitical entities these days, but they're still supposed to be different from, say Congress."
Brad Schimel: I will 'restore objectivity' to Wisconsin Supreme Court "No litigant should come to the courtroom knowing they lost their case already before they've filed a brief, their lawyers have argued, before…