Voters on Tuesday approved letting state Supreme Court justices choose who will lead them — a change to a 126-year-old system that is likely to result in the demotion of Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson. With 92% of precincts reporting, the proposed amendment to the state constitution had 53% “yes” votes and 47% “no” votes. Since 1889, the job of chief justice has gone to the most senior member of the Supreme Court. The chief justice serves as the administrative head of the state’s judiciary and sets agendas for the high court.
