Judge Chris Taylor has spent her career protecting our rights and defending our freedoms. She will bring common sense, fairness, and impartiality to the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
Fact: Chris Taylor Defended Access To Reproductive Healthcare And Fought Against Abortion Restrictions
Taylor Worked As Public Policy Director For Planned Parenthood Wisconsin From 2003-2011. “Chris Taylor had never planned on running for office. She loved her job as public policy director with Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin. And she had a new baby and a four-year-old at home. Getting into electoral politics was the last thing on her mind. … She practiced law for a brief time after school before accepting the public policy director position at Planned Parenthood in 2003. Unlike most candidates for state office, Taylor had no prior experience in elected office, but she was convinced that her time working behind the scenes, advocating for women's health care and negotiating with legislators, would make up for that.” [Isthmus, 5/23/13]
Taylor Slammed GOP Bills That Would Ban UW Campus Health Clinics From Providing The Morning-After Contraceptive Pill And Cut State Funding For Clinics That Provide Abortion Referral Services. “Prompted by an ad in a college newspaper for emergency contraception, also known as the morning-after pill, LeMahieu has proposed legislation that would ban health centers on University of Wisconsin campuses from distributing the morning-after pill. Sen. Joe Leibham, R-Sheboygan, has also proposed cutting state funding to public family planning clinics that encourage, counsel or make referrals to abortion services. … The two bills together, should they become law, could have disastrous effects for Wisconsin, Taylor said. "It's terrible for women," she said. "The direct result (will be) an increase in unintended pregnancies and the need for abortions in the state. We know one of the best ways to decrease unintended pregnancies is to make sure people have access to health care. We know that by looking at other countries that have not made available family planning clinics."” [Sheboygan Press, 5/15/05]
Taylor Denounced 20-Week Abortion Ban That Included No Exceptions For Rape, Incest Or Severe Health Problems. “With Governor Scott Walker's signature, a controversial abortion bill will become law. The Wisconsin Assembly has passed a bill banning non-emergency abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. The Republican-controlled chamber approved the bill 61-34 Thursday, July 9th. The Senate passed the measure in June. It now goes to Governor Walker, who has said he will sign it into law. Under the proposal, doctors who perform a non-emergency abortion after 20 weeks could be punished by up to $10,000 in fines and 31/2 years in prison. The bill doesn't provide exceptions for pregnancies resulting from sexual assault or incest. … Prior to debate on the bill Thursday, there was a warning that much of the discussion would be personal — and it was. "We were expecting seven times. Unfortunately, three of those ended in miscarriages," Rep. Joan Ballweg (R-Markesan) said. "That's the worst day of your life. That is the worst day of your life and I know because I've had so many pregnancy losses," Rep. Chris Taylor (D-Madison) said. … Critics of the bill say it provides no exemption for cases of rape, incest or severe health problems. "That's the problem with this bill — it makes it black and white. It says unless a woman is gonna imminently die or a physician can say she's gonna lose a bodily function, you're out of luck," Rep. Taylor said.” [WITI, 7/9/15]
Headline: Isthmus: “Forced Ultrasounds Show Women Being Ignored.” [Reps. Chris Taylor and Mandy Wright, Capital Times, 7/10/13]
Taylor Shared Story Of Traumatic ER Ultrasound After Being Told They Couldn’t Detect A Heartbeat When She Was 18 Weeks Pregnant With Her Second Child, Urged “Empathy And Compassion” For Women And Opposition To Ultrasound Requirement Bill. “This was no ordinary debate in the Wisconsin Legislature. Rep. Mandy Wright (D-Wausau) shared publicly for the first tim? that she had been raped when she was 8. Rep. Dianne Hesselbein (D-Middleton) talked openly for the first time about the anguish she felt when told 17 years ago that one of the twins she was carrying had died in utero and that she had to make a choice to "save the life" of her other son. And Rep. Chris Taylor (D-Madison) told the story of how, when 18 weeks pregnant with her second child, she ended up in the emergency room, where she was told the fetal heartbeat could not be detected. Then she was sent for an ultrasound. "I remember crying hysterically and wondering what I was going to see on that ultrasound," Taylor said during debate last week over a bill that would require women seeking an abortion to first have an ultrasound. It turned out to be a false alarm for Taylor, but she said the situation would have been much worse had there been problems and had she been forced to view another ultrasound before getting an abortion. "I cannot imagine going through that, finding out something was wrong, and [having to have another ultrasound] to terminate a pregnancy. You have no idea what you're doing to women. Please have some empathy and compassion for women."” [Isthmus, 6/21/13]
Isthmus: Legislation Was “Part Of A Renewed Push In Wisconsin And Across The Country To Restrict Access To Abortion And Birth Control.” “During a contentious floor session June 12, the Senate also passed the ultrasound bill after Republican leaders cut off debate. Gov. Scott Walker has said he will sign the bill into law. The other two abortion bills now head to the Senate, where leaders say they will likely not be acted on until this fall, after the summer recess. These bills are part of a renewed push in Wisconsin and across the country to restrict access to abortion and birth control.” [Isthmus, 6/21/13]
Taylor Praised The Wisconsin Supreme Court’s Decision Striking Down The 1849 Abortion Ban. “Today’s decision by the majority of justices on the Wisconsin Supreme Court correctly renders Wisconsin’s 1849 Abortion Ban unenforceable, protecting an individual’s right to make their most personal, private decisions about their bodies and their lives.” [Urban Milwaukee, 7/2/25]
Fact: Chris Taylor Championed Legislation To Support And Protect Sexual Assault And Domestic Violence Survivors
Taylor Passed Bipartisan Safe At Home Law To Allow Victims Of Stalking, Domestic Abuse Or Human Trafficking To Keep Their Addresses Confidential. “Victims of stalking, domestic abuse or human trafficking would be able to keep their addresses confidential under a bill on its way to Gov. Scott Walker's desk. The bill, introduced by Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, Senate Minority Leader Jennifer Shilling, D-La Crosse, and Reps. Joel Kleefisch, R-Oconomowoc and Chris Taylor, D-Madison, was passed by both the Senate and Assembly on Tuesday. Kleefisch and Taylor acknowledged their unlikely bipartisan alliance, speaking with reporters before the floor session. "When it comes to protecting people who have been victims of violence or abuse, there really is no Republican or Democrat," Kleefisch said. The "Safe at Home" bill would allow victims and parents and children of victims of stalking, domestic abuse or human trafficking to work with the state Department of Justice to keep their residence secret. Victims would submit their actual address to DOJ and would be given an assigned address.” [Capital Times, 2/10/16]
Taylor Worked With Republican Rep. Joel Kleefisch And Sen. Fitzgerald And Democratic Sen. Shilling On Safe At Home Bill And Then-AG Schimel Assisted With Drafting. According to testimony from Tony Gibart of Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence, “I want to thank Senators Fitzgerald and Shilling and Representatives Kleefisch and Taylor for authoring this important bill. I also want to thank the Department of Justice and Attorney General Brad Schimel for assisting with the drafting of the bill.” [Wisconsin State Legislature SB 488 – Testimony, 1/13/16]
Safe At Home Bill Received Support From WI Chiefs Of Police Association, End Domestic Abuse WI, And Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault. Wisconsin Association Of Family & Childrens Agencies, YWCA Madison, and Legal Action of Wisconsin also registered support. [Wisconsin Ethics Commission – Assembly Bill 673, 2015; Wisconsin Ethics Commission – Senate Bill 488, 2015]
WI Professional Police Association Registered In Support Of Safe At Home Bill. [Wisconsin Senate Bill 488 – Record of Committee Proceedings, 1/13/16]
Headline: Capital Times: “Bipartisan Effort Aims To Protect Survivors Of Domestic Abuse.” [Capital Times, 1/27/16]
Headline: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: “Scott Walker signs bill giving abuse victims confidential addresses.” [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 4/11/16]
Taylor Advocated For Bill To Require All Hospitals, Including Those Run By Faith-Based Organizations, To Provide Rape Victims With Information About Emergency Contraception. “All hospitals, including those run by faith-based organizations, would be required to provide rape victims with information about emergency contraception under a bill before the state Assembly. … Emergency contraception is most effective when taken within 24 hours of sexual intercourse. It is at least 75 percent effective when taken five days after unprotected sex. Because of that short window of time, it's important that Catholic hospitals be required to offer victims information and the contraception without restrictions, said Chris Taylor, political director for Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, one of the organizations supporting the bill. "These women have undergone a tremendous trauma and shock. Hospitals cannot expect them to ask all the right questions. They need to offer information about emergency contraception," she said. … "Rape victims should not have to shop around from emergency room to emergency room to get comprehensive health care," Taylor said.” [Wausau Daily Herald, 3/7/04]
Study Showed That 25% Of Wisconsin Hospital Staff Would Not Prescribe Emergency Contraception To Rape Victims And 21 Counties Had No Hospitals That Would Prescribe Emergency Contraception. “A study released this year by an organization connected to an abortion rights political advocacy group found that the staff at about 25 percent of hospitals surveyed in the state would not prescribe emergency contraception to sexual assault victims. The Wisconsin Reproductive Access Project also said that 21 counties in Wisconsin do not have any hospitals that will prescribe emergency contraception.” [Wausau Daily Herald, 3/7/04]
January 2008: Compassionate Care For Rape Victims Bill Passed On Bipartisan 61-35 Vote In Assembly With 16 Republicans In Support And One Democrat Opposing. “A bill that didn't even get a public hearing in the last legislative session when Republicans controlled both statehouses cleared its last real legislative hurdle Wednesday, setting up an expected signing by Gov. Jim Doyle. The Republican-controlled state Assembly decisively approved a bill requiring all hospitals - including religious-based institutions- to offer emergency contraception to rape victims. The bill passed 61-35, with 16 Republicans joining the entire Democratic caucus except for one member, Rep. Bob Ziegelbauer of Manitowoc, in support.” [Capital Times, 1/24/08]
February 2008: Senate Voted 25-6 To Approve Compassionate Care Bill. [Wisconsin Assembly Bill 377, introduced 5/31/07]
March 2008: Gov. Doyle Signed Compassionate Care Bill Into Law. [Wisconsin Assembly Bill 377, introduced 5/31/07]
Advocates For Victims Of Sexual Assault Spent Six Years Working To Pass Bill Guaranteeing Access To Emergency Contraception. “Advocates for victims of sexual assault tried for six years to pass such a bill, arguing that two-thirds of the state's emergency rooms did not stock emergency contraception, though more than 80 percent of residents believe rape victims should have access to the medication when needed.” [Capital Times, 1/24/08]
Capital Times: Compassionate Care Bill Was “First Time In A Decade The State Has Significantly Expanded Access To Birth Control.” “If, as expected, Gov. Jim Doyle signs the bill preliminarily passed by the state Assembly to provide emergency contraception to rape victims, it will be the first time in a decade the state has significantly expanded access to birth control.” [Capital Times, 12/12/07]
Isthmus: Compassionate Care For Rape Victims Act Was “The First Proactive Reproductive Health Bill To Pass In More Than Three Decades.” “Taylor is proud of the agency's success during her time there, especially the passage in 2007 of the Compassionate Care for Rape Victims Act, which was the first proactive reproductive health bill to pass in more than three decades.” [Isthmus, 5/23/13]
Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault: Compassionate Care Law Requires “Hospitals Provide Medically And Factually Accurate Oral And Written Information To Female Survivors Who Become Pregnant On The Use And Effectiveness Of Emergency Contraception And Provide All Doses On Site, Regardless Of Any Religious Affiliation.” “If the survivor you are working with wants to get emergency contraception from the hospital, it is important to understand Wisconsin’s Compassionate Care for Rape Victims Law. Enacted in 2008, the law ensures hospitals provide medically and factually accurate oral and written information to female survivors who become pregnant on the use and effectiveness of emergency contraception and provide all doses on site, regardless of any religious affiliation. Any hospital who violates the law may be required to pay a fine. Any questions about compliance can be made to the Bureau of Health Services at 608-264-9887 or 414-227-4556.” [Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault, December 2022]