Wisconsin court candidate helped found school barring gays

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Brian Hagedorn helped create and serves on the board of a private school that prohibits anyone working there from being in a gay relationship and could expel students who are gay.

Groups that advocate for gay rights in Wisconsin on Thursday said Hagedorn's involvement with the Augustine Academy in Waukesha disqualifies him from being able to serve as a fair, impartial judge on the state Supreme Court.

Friends of Brian Hagedorn responded to what they called the "latest smear":

"Judge Hagedorn treats everyone fairly under the law. His job is to say what the is and not what he thinks the law should be. He is running for the Supreme Court to protect religious freedoms for all Wisconsinites, regardless of faith. Yet the latest smear is just another example of attacks on his own faith. Lisa Neubauer and her liberal allies will stop at nothing to take over the Supreme Court, even smearing Judge Hagedorn for founding a Christian school to better the lives of children."

Hagedorn faces state Appeals Court Judge Lisa Neubauer in the April 2 election . Hagedorn is also a state appeals court judge.

Liberal Group One Wisconsin Now presented details of Hagedorn's involvement with the school at a news conference. The school's code of conduct prohibits "immoral sexual activity" defined as anything "apart from the context of marriage between one man and one woman."

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