Viewing John Bradley Winslow, "The Story of a Great Court" (1912).

John Bradley Winslow, "The Story of a Great Court" (1912).

In 1912 John Bradley Winslow (1851-1920), published a history of the Wisconsin Supreme Court from the territorial period through the death of Chief Justice Edward George Ryan on October 19, 1880. In 1891 Winslow, then a circuit judge, was appointed to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. He served as Associate Justice until 1907 when, on the death of a senior colleague, he became the 10th Chief Justice, holding this office until death on July 13, 1920.

Chief Justice Winslow's colorful anecdotes and familiarity with the personalities of early justices were coupled with an account of the movement to rid the elections of judges of political influences. Joseph A. Ranney, a historian of the state's legal system, writes that "Wisconsin's lawyers and judges were impressed with the book and it helped ensure that the ideal of a nonpartisan, professional judiciary would continue."

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