before the 2022 elections begin." Roggensack will retire at the end of her present term, which expires in July 2023. COVID-19 stay-at-home controversy On May 5, 2020, during oral arguments in Wisconsin's stay-at-home order case, which challenges the extension of statewide business and school closures due to the outbreak of COVID-19, Roggensack challenged the idea that the outbreak was community-wide and could be replicated elsewhere. Arguing that the most recent increase in COVID cases mainly reflected an isolated outbreak at one meatpacking facility, she commented, "Due to the meatpacking, though, that's where Brown County got the flare. It wasn't just the regular folks in Brown County.” A challenge to acting Wisconsin health secretary Andrea Palm's extension of statewide business and school closures, filed by Senate Majority Leader Scott L. Fitzgerald and House Speaker Robin Vos, Roggensack's comments sparked political criticism from Democratic lawmakers and labor union leaders, labeling her use of the term “regular folks” elitist, classist, and racist. Precluded from commenting outside of court on cases pending judgement, Roggensack was unable to respond. Defending her statement, Rick Esenberg, President of the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, said that by "regular folks" Roggensack meant the general population of Brown County. On May 13, 2020, the Supreme Court declared the stay-at-home order "unlawful, invalid, and unenforceable." In her majority opinion, Roggensack stated DHS Secretary Andrea Palm had no authority to enact the order. Personal life and family Roggensack's daughter, Ellen Brostrom, serves as a circuit court judge in Milwaukee County. Electoral history Wisconsin Supreme Court (1995) | colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| Primary Election, February 21, 1995 | colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| General Election, April 4, 1995 Wisconsin Appeals Court (1996, 2002) Wisconsin Supreme Court (2003, 2013) | colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| Primary Election, February 19, 2003 | colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| General Election, April 1, 2003 | colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| Primary Election, February 19, 2013 | colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| General Election, April 2, 2013 Sources 'Safer at Home' questions, challenges persist as Wisconsin awaits court ruling Chief justice: COVID-19 spread at meatpacking plant not affecting 'regular folks' References External links Patience Roggensack contributor profile at the Federalist Society Follow the Money - Patience Drake Roggensack 2013 2003 1995 campaign contributions |- 1940 births 20th-century American judges 20th-century American women judges 21st-century American women judges 21st-century American judges Chief Justices of the Wisconsin Supreme Court Drake University alumni Justices of the Wisconsin Supreme Court Lawyers