MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The Wisconsin Supreme Court unanimously ruled the state's top election official can stay in her position even after her term expired.

The decision ends a dispute that began in 2023 after Senate Republicans voted to fire Meagan Wolfe, the administrator of the bipartisan state elections commission, in wake of her term ending.

In the 7-0 ruling, justices determined the commission "does not have a duty to appoint a new administrator to replace Wolfe simply because her term has ended."

Justices upheld a Dane County judge ruling last fall that also found GOP lawmakers did not have the power to remove or replace Wolfe. It comes after Wolfe refused to vacate her position as administrator after Attorney General Josh Kaul filed a lawsuit in wake of the Senate firing her.

In a statement, Wolfe said she was "pleased" with the ruling and looked forward to continuing to work with election officials across the state. 

“Serving beside them is an honor, and Wisconsinites are lucky to have them,” she said.  “I have every confidence that our clerks will continue to deliver fair and accurate elections to all Wisconsin communities.”

Wolfe has been a target of Republicans since the fallout of the 2020 presidential election. Many took aim at the commission after Donald Trump falsely claimed, without evidence, widespread voter fraud was the reason behind his defeat to Joe Biden in Wisconsin.

Wolfe was also blamed for policies the six-member bipartisan commission enacted during the pandemic to administer the election such as the use of absentee ballot drop boxes and not allowing special voting deputies into nursing homes.

Some Republican lawmakers also sought to impeach Wolfe, an effort that fell short. 

The court also noted their ruling largely reflected a position they took in 2022 that allowed a GOP-appointed Fredrick Prehn to remain on the Natural Resources Board nearly two years after his term ended.

Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg) and Senate President Mary Felzkowski (R-Tomahawk) said they we're "disappointed" by the court ruling. 

“We are disappointed that the court disagreed with our interpretation of the statute that would have subjected Meagan Wolfe to further legislative oversight," LeMahieu and Felzcowksi said in a joint statement. “Senate Republicans will continue to do everything we can to ensure that Wisconsin has free and fair elections and restore integrity to the process.”