Retiring Justice Roggensack endorses Judge Jennifer Dorow for state Supreme Court

WISCONSIN (CBS 58) -- There are just six weeks to go until the primary election for Wisconsin state Supreme Court. 

On Monday, the justice vacating her seat's throwing her support behind one of the candidates.

In a surprising announcement, Justice Patience Roggensack, who's been a staple on Wisconsin's high court the past 20 years, is making her thoughts publicly known. 

Roggensack's supporting Judge Jennifer Dorow over Daniel Kelly, who previously served on the high court with her.

"She's been someone I've looked up to and admired for many years," said Judge Jennifer Dorow. 

Justice Patience Roggensack is giving the nod to Judge Dorow, saying "she has my unequivocal support."

Fellow conservative Daniel Kelly says he has his own strong base of support.

"I think people know that the two premier constitutional conservatives in our judiciary today, those two jurists are Justice Rebecca Bradley and Judge Shelly Grogan. She is, of course, on the Court of Appeals and so I am pleased to have the endorsement of the two premier constitutional conservatives," said Kelly.

Dorow's petitions to get her name on the ballot outnumbered those of Kelly's. 

"When I turned in the 4,000 signatures and trickling in closer to the end of the year, we had about 7,000 more turned in," said Dorow.

"I appreciate their engagement, but the depth and breadth of support is not measurable by the number of signatures on a petition," said Kelly.

The winner of this race will ultimately tip the court liberal or conservative and some feel Kelly should step aside. 

"I think that the idea that the most qualified constitutional conservative should drop out doesn't make a whole lot of sense," said Kelly.

Early Monday afternoon, Dorow and Kelly appeared at a forum in Madison alongside liberal candidates, judges Janet Protasiewicz and Everett Mitchell.

"I believe our state deserves justice that reflects the diversity and ideas and values of our entire state," said Judge Mitchell.

"I could not sit back and watch extreme right-wing partisans hijack our Supreme Court," said Judge Protasiewicz.

Moderators posed tough questions, some responses eliciting smiles.

The forum moderator asked, "Favorite founding father and why?"

"I guess I'd have to say Alexander Hamilton," said Kelly.

"Ah, come on man! Everybody's gonna say Alexander Hamilton, he's in the musical," said Mitchell.

The primary is Feb. 21.