BOTHFIELD V. WEC & WBLD V. WEC

Case Name: Bothfield v. WEC & WBLD v. WEC (Redistricting Cases)

Type of Case: Limited Government Project

Court: Dane County Circuit Court

Case Number:

Filed On: January 15, 2026

Current Status: The case has been appealed to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which has agreed to review it.

On behalf of Wisconsin voters in all eight of the state’s congressional districts, WILL filed motions to intervene in two lawsuits seeking to overturn Wisconsin’s congressional maps. WILL argues the suits are time-barred, that the three-judge panel lacks authority to overrule the Wisconsin Supreme Court, and that any attempt to impose new maps in this manner would violate federal law and the U.S. Constitution.

Background

Redistricting challenges have recurred in Wisconsin since the 2020 census. The Wisconsin Supreme Court adopted new congressional maps in 2022 based on Governor Tony Evers’ proposal. Despite two earlier judicial rejections, various groups filed these Dane County cases as a third challenge.

WILL’s Arguments

WILL identified three major deficiencies with the lawsuits. The cases improperly seek to overrule the Wisconsin Supreme Court, were filed long after the relevant maps were adopted, and lack legal merit. One case relies on a partisan gerrymandering theory that has been repeatedly rejected by state and federal courts, while the other advances an unrecognized legal claim.

Lawyers

Lucas Vebber, Deputy Counsel; Luke Berg, Deputy Counsel

CASE DOCUMENTS

• Response Brief, Bothfield Case, January 2026
• Johnson Intervenors’ Memorandum in Support of Motion to Dismiss, January 2026
• Response of Intervenor-Defendants Billie Johnson et al. in Opposition to Plaintiffs’ Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings, January 2026
• Bothfeld Decision, March 2026
• WBLD Decision, April 2026