MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Lisa Neubauer, the chief judge on the state appeals court, announced Thursday she is running for the Wisconsin Supreme Court in a bid to replace retiring liberal Justice Shirley Abrahamson next year.

Neubauer, who was appointed to the appeals court in 2007 by Abrahamson’s friend and former Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle, is the first of what could be a large field of candidates to join the race for the open seat.

Neubauer, who turns 61 next week, tried to establish herself as the preferred choice early, announcing that more than 150 current and former Wisconsin judges, including 18 from the court of appeals where she serves, have already endorsed her.

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